Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Scion XB problems

Owners filed 339 complaints about the 2008 Scion XB with NHTSA between Sep 2007 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (132).

Complaints
339
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
30
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags132
  2. Visibility45
  3. Steering37
  4. Engine35
  5. Electrical system34
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)20
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic20
  8. Service brakes16
  9. Vehicle speed control15
  10. Structure11
  11. Wheels9
  12. Power train7
  13. Engine and engine cooling7
  14. Exterior lighting5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20073
200827
200916
201038
201117
201215
201322
201422
201523
201650
201793
20187
20193
20200
20210
20220
20230
20241
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

132 reports16 crashes3 related recalls
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION XB. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED LONGO TOYOTA AT (855) 415-6497 (3534 PECK RD, EL MONTE, CA 91731) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2017Air bagsODI 11056141

Visibility

45 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“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 IT WAS COMING FROM MY CAR. I CHECKED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WHICH SHOWED FLAT COLD - UNUSUAL! I CHECKED MY REARVIEW MIRROR AGAIN, MAYBE 200 YDS LATER, AND THERE WAS A PALER GREY CLOUD FOLLOWING ME. I CHECKED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING. ABOUT 200-500 YARDS FARTHER, THE VSC LIGHT CAME ON, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND ANOTHER LIGHT THAT IS NOT SHOWN IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL STARTED BLINKING: THE SYMBOL WAS A CAR WITH A RECYCLE ARROW INSIDE THE BODY. I TOOK IT TO MEAN THAT THE CONTROLS WERE ACKNOWLEDGING THE HEATER WASN'T WORKING (THE SYMBOL IS THE SAME AS "AIR INTAKE SELECTOR" ON THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER CONTROLS). I FELT THAT I STILL HAD GOOD CONTROL OVER THE STEERING; IT WAS A CLEAR EVENING AND THE ROAD WAS DRY, SO I FELT I COULD GET HOME SAFELY (2 MILES). THE CAR WAS RUNNING QUITE ROUGH WHEN I GOT HOME AND THERE WAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2015Engine and engine cooling, VisibilityODI 10693440

Steering

37 reports1 crash
“I am writing to report significant safety concerns regarding my 2008 Scion [include model, e.g., tC or xB]. After purchasing the vehicle, I discovered multiple serious mechanical and structural defects that make the car unsafe to operate on public roads. 1. Suspension/Struts – The struts are severely worn and are causing premature and uneven tire wear. This creates a major risk of tire blowout or loss of control while driving. 2. Motor Mount – The engine mount is missing screws and bolts, which results in excessive engine movement. This could lead to engine damage or failure while in motion. 3. Alignment – The vehicle’s alignment is completely off, causing the car to pull while driving and further worsening tire wear and handling. 4. Brakes and Rotors – The brakes are nearly nonfunctional, and the rotors are warped and damaged, severely reducing stopping power and increasing the risk of a crash. 5. License Plate Mount – The vehicle has no designated place to mount a rear tag/license plate, which makes it illegal to drive and difficult to comply with state requirements. 6. Missing Headlight – One headlight is entirely missing, significantly reducing visibility…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2025Steering, Service brakes, EngineODI 11675868

Engine

35 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE OIL HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TO FOUR TIMES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2019EngineODI 11242900

Electrical system

34 reports1 crash7 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2026Electrical systemODI 11734811

Electronic stability control (esc)

20 reports3 crashes
“VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO LOCATION AND PARKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO PULL AWAY, STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL ASSIST IN THE STEERING DISAPPEARED MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. HAD TO HAVE STEERING ECM REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2016Steering, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10882003
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.