Scion XB Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,048 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls on file for the Scion XB, across 13 model years (2003–2015). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (339). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Scion XB years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical XB year: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 XB: 339 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2006 XB: 253 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2009 XB: 140 complaints, 10 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Scion XB problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 339 | 12 | 49 |
| Visibility problems | 218 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine | 91 | 10 | 6 |
| Structure | 88 | 11 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 85 | 10 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 73 | 9 | 24 |
| Steering | 47 | 5 | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 8 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 43 | 10 | 19 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 29 | 5 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 23 | 6 | 0 |
| Power Train | 21 | 6 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 5 | 8 |
| Wheels | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| Tires | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Equipment | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Scion XB problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Scion XB model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 XB | 6 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2014 XB | 9 | 2 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2013 XB | 14 | 2 | — | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 XB | 45 | 3 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2011 XB | 54 | 5 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 XB | 55 | 7 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 XB | 140 | 10 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 XB | 339 | 8 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 XB | 3 | 3 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2006 XB | 253 | 5 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 XB | 92 | 1 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 XB | 37 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 XB | 1 | 0 | — | Tires |
More from Scion: all Scion models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Scion XB years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2005 (92), 2006 (253), 2008 (339), 2009 (140) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical XB year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Scion XB?
Air Bags, with 339 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Scion XB have?
15 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.