Scion XB Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the Scion XB across 7 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (145). The words owners use most often: “windshield cracked” (19% of reports).
- 218visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
- 56%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Windshield cracked: mentioned in 42 of 218 complaints (19%)
- Shaped crack: mentioned in 32 of 218 complaints (15%)
- Rearview mirror: mentioned in 17 of 218 complaints (8%)
- Rear view: mentioned in 16 of 218 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility repair on the Scion XB at $770, and half of them between $480 and $1,350.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 162 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 218 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
Scion XB visibility complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Visibility:power window devices and controls
Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011
Problem: Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.
Visibility:power window devices and controls
Model years: 2008, 2009
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Risk: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The 1st thing i noticed after starting my car after work was the heater was blowing cold air, even after 4 miles on the road (2 lane road - 40 mpg). About 4 miles further on (freeway - 60+ mph), i noticed a thin grey cloud behind me, but the evening mists were evident, so i wasn't sure at first if…
Out of no where; no trees, no trucks in front of me or any other vehicles, on a clear day, my windshield made a loud pop noise and it cracked from the top passenger side edge to the center of the windshield. It slowly creeped across to the mid-line of visibility on the driver side over the next 24…
Master window switch caught on fire, and unit and plastic was melted. Had to replace, only to find out this part was recalled for the same model number and year as mine, but my vin did not match up. You may need to investigate further. Same issues the recall described, and may be more like me out…
Toyota settled a class action lawsuit for 2006 scion xb windshields, but won't address other years. The windshields are defective and break. Here are my 2008 scion xb windshield problems for the record. In 09/2010 with 20,000 miles, my 1st windshield cracked and had to be replaced. In 05/2013 with…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota scion xb. The contact stated that while reversing, flames were seen from the driver's side window switch. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Scion XBs have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 218 owner complaints about visibility for the Scion XB. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Scion XB visibility?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix visibility problems on the Scion XB?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $480 and $1,350), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the Scion XB?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield cracked”, in 42 of 218 complaints, followed by “shaped crack” (32).
Other Scion XB problems
- Air Bags problems (339)
See all Scion XB problems.