18
Star Safety SystemTM
VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing engine power and 
applying brake force to selected wheels. 
Toyota’s VSC monitors steering angle and the direction your vehicle is traveling. 
When it senses that the front or rear wheels begin to lose traction, VSC reduces 
engine power and applies braking to selected wheels. This helps restore traction 
and vehicle control.
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Brake Assist (BA)
ABS helps prevent brakes from locking up by “pulsing” brake pressure to each 
wheel. This limits brake lockup and helps provide directional control for the 
current road conditions. 
Toyota’s ABS sensors detect which wheels are locking up and limits wheel lockup 
by “pulsing” each wheel’s brakes independently. Pulsing releases brake pressure 
repeatedly for fractions of a second. This helps the tires attain the traction that 
current road conditions will allow, helping you to stay in directional control.  Brake Assist is designed to detect sudden or “panic” braking, and then add braking 
pressure to help decrease the vehicle’s stopping distance. When there’s only a 
split second to react, Brake Assist can add additional brake pressure more quickly 
than just the driver alone can. VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing engine power, and 
Traction Control helps maintain traction on loose gravel and wet, icy, or uneven 
surfaces by applying brake force to the spinning wheel(s). 
Toyota’s TRAC sensors are activated when one of the drive wheels starts to slip. 
TRAC limits engine output and applies the brakes to the spinning wheel. This 
transfers power to the wheels that still have traction to help keep you on track.
Traction Control (TRAC)
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
Toyota’s ABS technology has Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to help 
maintain control and balance when braking. Abrupt stops can cause a vehicle 
to tilt forward, reducing the braking power of the rear wheels. EBD responds to 
sudden stops by redistributing brake force to enhance the braking effectiveness of 
all four wheels.
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES 
All new Scion vehicles come standard with the Star Safety SystemTM, which combines 
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System 
(ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop 
Technology (SST).
Spare tire & tools
Tool location
Removing the spare tire 
(1) Remove the spare tire cover.
(2) Loosen and remove the bolt.
Refer to the  Owner’s Manual  for jack positioning and tire changing procedures.
Wheel nut wrenchFront towing eyelet
Jack handle
(1)
(2)
Spare tire
Jack
2016_Scion-tC-02.indd   187/2/15   5:37 PM 
OVERVIEW
FEATURES/OPERATIONS
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES
19
Star Safety SystemTM
VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing engine power and 
applying brake force to selected wheels. 
Toyota’s VSC monitors steering angle and the direction your vehicle is traveling. 
When it senses that the front or rear wheels begin to lose traction, VSC reduces 
engine power and applies braking to selected wheels. This helps restore traction 
and vehicle control.
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Brake Assist (BA)
ABS helps prevent brakes from locking up by “pulsing” brake pressure to each 
wheel. This limits brake lockup and helps provide directional control for the 
current road conditions. 
Toyota’s ABS sensors detect which wheels are locking up and limits wheel lockup 
by “pulsing” each wheel’s brakes independently. Pulsing releases brake pressure 
repeatedly for fractions of a second. This helps the tires attain the traction that 
current road conditions will allow, helping you to stay in directional control.  Brake Assist is designed to detect sudden or “panic” braking, and then add braking 
pressure to help decrease the vehicle’s stopping distance. When there’s only a 
split second to react, Brake Assist can add additional brake pressure more quickly 
than just the driver alone can. VSC helps prevent loss of traction during cornering by reducing engine power, and 
Traction Control helps maintain traction on loose gravel and wet, icy, or uneven 
surfaces by applying brake force to the spinning wheel(s). 
Toyota’s TRAC sensors are activated when one of the drive wheels starts to slip. 
TRAC limits engine output and applies the brakes to the spinning wheel. This 
transfers power to the wheels that still have traction to help keep you on track.
Traction Control (TRAC)
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
Toyota’s ABS technology has Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to help 
maintain control and balance when braking. Abrupt stops can cause a vehicle 
to tilt forward, reducing the braking power of the rear wheels. EBD responds to 
sudden stops by redistributing brake force to enhance the braking effectiveness of 
all four wheels.
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES 
All new Scion vehicles come standard with the Star Safety SystemTM, which combines 
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System 
(ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop 
Technology (SST).
(1) Remove the spare tire cover.
(2) Loosen and remove the bolt.
Refer to the  Owner’s Manual  for jack positioning and tire changing procedures.
Front towing eyelet
2016_Scion-tC-02.indd   197/2/15   5:37 PM