85 of the 1,291 complaints filed about the Scion XB are about the electrical system — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2008.
85
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
13
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Scion XB. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 140,000; however, the Carfax report listed the mileage at approximately 230,000.
NHTSA complaint #11734811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle had no dashboard light indicators. While traveling on highway, started to sound like a motorcycle and decelerate. Pulled over and started to smoke from the hood, exited vehicle and smoke turned to flames. Fire deescalated by Fire Dept. and vehicle is a total loss. All maintenance was UpToDate and just passed vehicle inspection for driving test a week prior. Fire cause completely unknown at this time per fire report Area of Fire Origin: 83-Engine area, running gear, wheel area
NHTSA complaint #11693920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car is using a quarter of oil additional every 3000 miles
NHTSA complaint #11524217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was shocked by electrical component on a rainy day on the driver side the electric component In the door panel were exposed to rain as all buttons to control lock and windows from driver side have sunk down a couple inches. This happened almost right away after I purchased pre-owned from Honda dealership in Corona. I took my Scion to Toyota of Ontario who said faulty electrical components had been replaced prior to my purchase and wasn't covered as a free replacement/repair item. I had to get recalled airbags replaced though and as a courtesy door panel was tightened up no exposed wires but it wasn't replacing melted parts either from direct sun exposure as the windshield is like a magnifying glass, amplifying the heat of the sun exponentially. The "courtesy fix" didn't last even 2months and being on disability and on a fixed income that expense hadn't been on the top of my list. It's more than cosmetic and more than merely a nuisance, I was actually shocked. Not as badly as the time I was shocked by jumper cables when my battery died, which caused me to have a seizure and I am not epileptic. I believe it was not due to defect, but rather my lack of experience. Still the lock and windows are electric and should be available to operate by driver. To unlock the rear door when picking up kids from school, I must turn the ignition off or remove my seatbelt put car in park, engage the E Brake and reach way over and all the way back. It's annoying and what, God forbid I am involved in a terrible accident I cannot unlock car door or escape a flash flood by rolling down my window. These things worry me most. Even more than being electrocuted again the next time it rains.
NHTSA complaint #11494294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Hi, Air bag light started intermittently flashing in January. Toyota could not diagnose until it was on all the time. Charged me $89.95. Air bag light stays on all the time 04-25-21. Take it to Toyota and diagnose intermittent open in driver side front door harness in circuit to left front door air bag sensor. $272.88. Want an additional $739.78 to replace harness. This is same problem that has been recalled on Toyota Venza and Avalon to the best of my knowledge. Harness is too short and rubs on door frame, causing open circuit. I believe this is an overall Toyota/Scion problem.
NHTSA complaint #11418123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVERS DOOR AIR BAG HARNESS HAS AN OPEN CODE. PART # 82152-12L23. SAME PROBLEM THST TOYOTA HAS WITH RECALLED VENZA. TOYOTA WANTS OVER $1,000 TO FIX. AIR BAG LIGHT ON ALL OF THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11415634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT PANEL LIGHTS COME ON INCLUDING BATTERY,SLIP INDICATOR,VSC,ABS AND SOMETIMES LOSE SPEEDOMETER WHILE DRIVING. HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL CAR REPAIR PLACES DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. ALSO, ONE TIME AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR MECHANICS SAY THAT MY CAR IS TRACKING GOOD. I HAVE 175,441 MILES ON MY SCION. SOMETIMES EVERYTHING IS FINE FOR DAYS, THEN LIGHTS WILL BLINK OR STAY ON FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11362624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK HALF WAY UNABLE TO EXIT CAR. DOOR LOCKS WILL CLICK OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN PARKED, USING KEY REMOTE TO LOCK CAR AND WHILE WALKING AWAY I HEAR CAR LOCKS CLICK. I WALK BACK TO CAR TO FIND ALL DOORS UNLOCKED? REAR HATCH HANDLE ASSEMBLY VERY FLIMSY. IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO PULL DOOR OPEN. MINE CAME OFF IN MY HAND SQUEEZING THE RELEASE THEN PULLING IT OPEN! CANNOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE WITHOUT IT OR IN AN EMERGENCY. ALSO WITHOUT THE HANDLE THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION OF THE LICENSE PLATE WHICH GETS YOU PULLED OVER AND GETS YOU A TICKET!
NHTSA complaint #11235155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE WIRE WAS HOT, WHICH CREATED A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE LIGHT SWITCH, MIRROR SWITCH, TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH, AIR BAGS, AND DOOR LOCKS NOT TO WORK AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
NHTSA complaint #11194535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CLUTCH, 2013, WAGON, XB, TANAKA, HUMID, SMOKING, MELTING, SMELL, FLUIDS. WHEN I DROVE THIS LEMON OFF THE LOT IT HAD 17 MILES. 2013 SCION, XB, CLUTCH, WAGON, 4 DOOR, SILVER, LIMITED EDITION?????? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11164937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HANDLE TO THE HATCH BROKE OFF SO MANY TIMES AFTER PROPERLY BEING REPAIRED WE INSTALLED A STRAP HANDLE TO THE HATCH SO THAT WE ONLY NEED TO TOUCH THE BUTTON AND PULL THE STRAP. THE DAMAGED HANDLE WOULD PREVENT THE HATCH FROM SHUTTING PROPERLY. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY BLOW FUSES AND MECHANICS CAN NOT FIND OUT WHY. THIS LEAVES YOU SUDDENLY WITH NO TAIL LIGHTS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN BEING PULLED OVER MANY TIMES AND A FEW TICKETS. I HAVE TAKEN TO KEEPING THE REPAIR TICKET WITH ME TO AVOID TICKETS AT DAWN AND DUSK. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND WHY THE FUSE IS BLOWING. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT HAD FIXED MANY TIMES. LAST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS 2 MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #11132065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NHTSA RE ALL NO. 16V-340 & 17V-006 2012 TOYOTA SCION I TOOK THE VEICLE TO REPAIR AFTER THAT I DIDN'T REVIVE ANY NOTIFICATION OF RECALL , I DID FILE A COMPLAINT NEVER RECIVE ANY NOTIFICATION IT LOOKS LIKE MY CAR IT'S BEEN SOLD TO ANOTHER AGENCY WITHOUT MY NOTIFICATION AND AUTORIZACIN I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS WITHOUT KNOWING THE SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #11099273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WORK SPORADICALLY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS. SOMETIMES THE DOOR LOCK WON'T UNLOCK MANUALLY EITHER. THE WINDOWS SEEM LIKE THEY RUN OUT OF POWER AND THE BACK PASSENGER ONE STOPPED GOING DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11091561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWER WINDOWS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE ISSUES; BACK WINDOWS NO LONGER WORKS, FRONT DRIVER SIDE WILL GO UP IN STAGES BUT ONLY IF ACTIVELY MOVING. DRIVER SEATBELT UNLATCHES. BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 5 MONTHS IF NOT LONGER.
NHTSA complaint #11051541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LAST NIGHT WE WENT OUT. THE CAR WAS PARKED AT AN EVENT FOR A COUPLE HOURS, THEN WE WERE HEADED FOR DINNER WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ON A LOW TRAVELED CITY STREET AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF FOR SAFETY. IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT, IN THE DARK, ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR WORSE. THE PICTURES OF THE WIRING ARE ATTACHED. SOMETHING HAD EATEN THEM - THESE WIRES, DUE TO ANOTHER INCIDENT, HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AS BEING THE EDIBLE ONES THAT ARE CAUSING SO MANY PROBLEMS IN MANY CARS. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN REGULARLY, INCLUDING DURING THE DAY OF THE LATEST INCIDENT, WITHOUT PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS, BASED ON THE TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE WIRES FROM THE ALTERNATOR THAT SOMETHING GOT IN WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AT THE EVENT. ALSO, WE WERE ONLY A COUPLE MILES AWAY WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. LAST TIME, SOMETHING ATE THE AC WIRES, SO THERE WERE NO SAFETY ISSUES. THIS TIME, THE CAR BECAME SUDDENLY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. AT THIS POINT, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNLESS I DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE WIRING SYSTEM BEFORE EVERY USE, WHETHER I AM LEAVING HOME OR RESTARTING THE CAR WHILE ON AN ERRAND. AS I AM NOT A LICENSED MECHANIC, I MAY MISS SOMETHING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE "GREEN WIRES" ARE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE, BUT IF THEY ATTRACT RODENTS WHO WILL CHEW THEM, POSSIBLY SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AT SPEED, ON A FREEWAY, I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS CAN BE A GOOD THING. WHATEVER ATE THE WIRES LAST NIGHT DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF SEVERING THEM. NEXT TIME, WHAT IF THEY ARE ONLY PARTIALLY CHEWED AND THE CONNECTION DOESN'T BREAK UNTIL I'M ON THE FREEWAY? WE HAVE HAD MANY OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD RODENT PROBLEMS. THIS IS ROUND 2 WITH THE SCION IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #11040922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ECU WENT BAD , WHEN I WENT OVER THE HIGH WAY ALL LIGHTS COME UP AND THE POWER STEERING STOP WORKING AND THE BRAKES LIGHT WENT UP AND THE
NHTSA complaint #11033260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. AND I GOT ANOTHER LETTER TODAY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES FOR NO REASON.
NHTSA complaint #11020486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY AND OUR INTENTION IS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT WORK AND CAUSE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. CANNOT MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE, BUT RATHER, HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW, REACH OUTSIDE THROUGH THE WINDOW AND INSERT KEY IN THE OUTSIDE DOOR LOCK, AND THEN CAUSE UNLOCK FROM THE KEY OUTSIDE. PUT ASIDE THE FACT THAT IF WE DROPPED THE KEY OUTSIDE WHILE REACHING THROUGH THE WINDOW FROM THE INSIDE, WE WOULD BE WROUGHT WITH MORE PROBLEM - THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT WE CANNOT ESCAPE THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DUE TO THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11006447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION XB. WHILE THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS RUNNING WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED AND THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING WITH HER GRANDCHILD IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA complaint #11000818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ARM WHERE THE WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN ON THE DRIVER SIDE JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE I WAS DRIVEING DOWN THE STREET STILL SMELL SMOKE IN MY CAR I NEED SOME HELP PLEASE I PAID 30000 FOR THIS CAR
NHTSA complaint #10981493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.