tC Hatch Rattle (UPDATED: Fix didnt work!)
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 645
Spare yourself the headache and stay away from this car at all cost. If lemon law doesnt work for me, then I will have to trade it in for around 13k. I paid 20K total for this rattle trap just 10 months ago. So its simple math, I lose 7K. For a recent college grad that is just devastating to the wallet. But I dont care at all. Money well spent to discard junk. Dont listen to posters who say "its just a rattle". Its a rattle you hear every freaken day every time you get behind the wheel. It will catch up with you eventually and drive you absolutely insane. Oh and keep in mind, its not just the hatch or roof. But those are the worst ones. The doors and dash have been known to make noises too. I cant even imagine the amount of noises the car will make in 5 or even 10 years.
Oh and also dont listen to posters who say "its just a small percentage" thats crap too. Ive been to different dealerships, and they are all aware of this problem. And most of them join in on the fun trash talking the tC. The service manager told me you got what you paid for. The customer service rep told me he just traded his rattling tC for a mini cooper because he couldnt deal with it no more.
Oh and if you insist on buying a tC despite the rattles, would you consider buying mine? PLEEEEEEASE?!?!?!
Oh and also dont listen to posters who say "its just a small percentage" thats crap too. Ive been to different dealerships, and they are all aware of this problem. And most of them join in on the fun trash talking the tC. The service manager told me you got what you paid for. The customer service rep told me he just traded his rattling tC for a mini cooper because he couldnt deal with it no more.
Oh and if you insist on buying a tC despite the rattles, would you consider buying mine? PLEEEEEEASE?!?!?!
Senior Member
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 996
From: Virginia
Originally Posted by WonJohnSoup
Hey, first time poster.
I've been seriously thinking about getting a new '06 tC, and the main drawback has been the suprising amount of problems I've been hearing, considering the fact that this is a Toyota. I don't get these people defending Toyota so much and trying to brush it off on the 'low price' of the vehicle. 17K (19.2K out the door here in CA) is a lot of money no matter how you slice it. Drop the pride and speak out, cuz that's what it's going to take to get Toyota to fix these things.
Anyways, the two main problems I'm concerned with is the paint chipping and rattle noises. I've been stalking other people's tCs that I've come across, and maybe because it's the car friendly (but not so lung friendly) weather and climate here in SoCal, but I haven't seen any chips yet on any tC that I've run across. I'm guessing I can deal with that.
As for the rattle, I'd like to know just how bad it's been for some of you. Whenever I drive, I ALWAYS have the music on. Not thumpin' so hard the guy in the next car can notice it, but enough. I just sold my 4-year old Jetta today and as she was test driving it, I noticed some squeaks I never noticed before because it was masked by the music. So for you people who've had these rattles, do you drive with the music on? Is it noticeable even with the volume up say, 1/4 of the way to maximum?
Thanx for any responses. And I hope the OP gets his car squared away soon. It sounds incredibly frustrating to be dealing with something like this on a new car.
And oh, by the way, what does TSB stand for? They should have some of the terms I've encountered on this board posted up in the FAQs.
Thanx again.
I've been seriously thinking about getting a new '06 tC, and the main drawback has been the suprising amount of problems I've been hearing, considering the fact that this is a Toyota. I don't get these people defending Toyota so much and trying to brush it off on the 'low price' of the vehicle. 17K (19.2K out the door here in CA) is a lot of money no matter how you slice it. Drop the pride and speak out, cuz that's what it's going to take to get Toyota to fix these things.
Anyways, the two main problems I'm concerned with is the paint chipping and rattle noises. I've been stalking other people's tCs that I've come across, and maybe because it's the car friendly (but not so lung friendly) weather and climate here in SoCal, but I haven't seen any chips yet on any tC that I've run across. I'm guessing I can deal with that.
As for the rattle, I'd like to know just how bad it's been for some of you. Whenever I drive, I ALWAYS have the music on. Not thumpin' so hard the guy in the next car can notice it, but enough. I just sold my 4-year old Jetta today and as she was test driving it, I noticed some squeaks I never noticed before because it was masked by the music. So for you people who've had these rattles, do you drive with the music on? Is it noticeable even with the volume up say, 1/4 of the way to maximum?
Thanx for any responses. And I hope the OP gets his car squared away soon. It sounds incredibly frustrating to be dealing with something like this on a new car.
And oh, by the way, what does TSB stand for? They should have some of the terms I've encountered on this board posted up in the FAQs.
Thanx again.
But remember, many folks come to this and any forum to post complaints and problems to see if any fixes are out there. So if you read ANY forum, you are going to never buy a car due to the problems posted.
The tC is not perfect but then no car is perfect. I have even seen Mercedes and Lexus posts about rattles.
Good luck on your decision.
Kevin
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 496
I can understand what Captain tC said about his car being a rattle trap but I cant say stay away from it at all costs either . Im neither defending the car or approving of it . Some backgound on how things progressed for me . When I first purchased the tC it was new and had only a few miles on the vehicle and from day one it was quiet as a new car is normally . No rattles no squeeks , just perfect as I figured a toyota product would be . As the miles added up and I reached the 2000 mile mark it started , with a small rattle in the sunroof glass that I previously described as a popcorn seed tapping glass . At first I just wrote it off and like most on here said I turned up the stereo and pretty much ignored it . I sometimes like to drive with the stereo off and just drive . As like I described earlier the sound from teh roof was there and was tollerable . Then the sound grew to the point that it over powerd the stereo , and could even be heard with the windows and sunroof open . Around 4-5000 miles the rear hatch exploded with rattles . Some people dont have probs and most say they dont . I had an 06 tC for a loaner while they did my roof and it had all the same rattles if not more and it only had 247 miles on it . But hey if you REALLY want the tC then get it . Cuz if you dont get it your always gonna be mad at yerself that you didnt . My advice is , really think things over and check everything out during the test drive . Cuz the only person driving this car is you and if your happy with it then thats all that matters .
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 645
Originally Posted by TCRS1_0
But hey if you REALLY want the tC then get it . Cuz if you dont get it your always gonna be mad at yerself that you didnt . My advice is , really think things over and check everything out during the test drive .
Im still waiting to hear back from scion corporate and the service manager at the dealership.
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SL Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 91
From: Orange, CA
I feel for all of you dealing with the annoying noises that are associated with the tC. I have had just about every noise problem listed on this website and to this day I am still dealing with them. Check this link out to see some of the things that I've dealt with:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...hlight=#973461
I agree with Captain_tC 100% about the effect these sounds have on the fun of driving and on one's mental state. I can only listen to loud music so often to mask the constant sounds I have to deal with. Not to mention the fact I have a soon to be 2 year old girl in my car some of the time so loud music is not an option. I love the look of the tC. With the lowering springs and a few other mods it's a sleek ride, but I bounce back and forth way too much in regards to trading it in. Believe me, I don't expect any car to be perfect, but this car has way too many problem areas. The design of the car being the biggest factor, because having the entire roof of the car made of glass doesn't help the sound issues at all.
Right now I am dealing with a buzzing sound coming from the center console area (I think it's the temperature control ****) and a tapping sound coming from the back (I assume it has something to do with the hatch assembly or the rear moonroof glass area). It seems everytime I fix one, two more arise. It's a losing battle and it takes it's toll on my attitude towards driving.
Any ways, looking at my car...I love it. Driving my car...not so much. Hopefully between all these posts and people's heartache we can get these problems solved within the community. Hopefully some of my experiences can help you guys.
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...hlight=#973461
I agree with Captain_tC 100% about the effect these sounds have on the fun of driving and on one's mental state. I can only listen to loud music so often to mask the constant sounds I have to deal with. Not to mention the fact I have a soon to be 2 year old girl in my car some of the time so loud music is not an option. I love the look of the tC. With the lowering springs and a few other mods it's a sleek ride, but I bounce back and forth way too much in regards to trading it in. Believe me, I don't expect any car to be perfect, but this car has way too many problem areas. The design of the car being the biggest factor, because having the entire roof of the car made of glass doesn't help the sound issues at all.
Right now I am dealing with a buzzing sound coming from the center console area (I think it's the temperature control ****) and a tapping sound coming from the back (I assume it has something to do with the hatch assembly or the rear moonroof glass area). It seems everytime I fix one, two more arise. It's a losing battle and it takes it's toll on my attitude towards driving.
Any ways, looking at my car...I love it. Driving my car...not so much. Hopefully between all these posts and people's heartache we can get these problems solved within the community. Hopefully some of my experiences can help you guys.
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