Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Scion XB problems

Owners filed 140 complaints about the 2009 Scion XB with NHTSA between Oct 2008 and Dec 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (74).

Complaints
140
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags74
  2. Engine24
  3. Electrical system9
  4. Vehicle speed control9
  5. Service brakes7
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic7
  7. Structure5
  8. Seat belts4
  9. Power train4
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)4
  11. Latches/locks/linkages2
  12. Tires2
  13. Visibility2
  14. Equipment adaptive/mobility2

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 Nov 11, 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
20081
20096
201014
20111
20126
20132
20143
20159
201620
201755
20189
20197
20202
20211
20222
20230
20242

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

74 reports9 crashes4 related recalls
“KEEP GETTING RECALS IN THE MAIL MY CARS HOOLD LATCH WONT STAY SO I RISK DAILY THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE IT FLY UP AND SMASH MY WINDSHIELD, ALSO BURNS THREW TOO OIL, INTERIOR LIGHTS DONT WORK FOR THE HEATING AC AREA UMM IF U CLOSE THE GAS CAP COVER COMPLETLY AS REQUIRED IT FUEMS UP THE INSIDE THE CAR MAKES U SICK FEELNG MY AIRBAGS ARE ALARMING AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN U WOULDMT EXPECT IT TO OR NEVER STOP EVEN WHEN U CLICK IN SEAT BELT AND THE O2 SENSOR IS A CONSISTAMT REPLACEMENT THATS GETTIMG ANNOYING TO FIX OR REPLACE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2019Air bags, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11287763

Engine

24 reports4 fires
“This vehicle type had a oil consumption recall. My vehicle has never been repaired. The car consumes a lot of oil. I went to my local Toyota dealership to have my car repaired under the recall. They would not honor the repair.. my car is a 2009 Scion xB. The recall goes back to 2016. I bought my car after 2016 with low miles. Don't they have to repair by law ? Can you please help me. I am low income on a disability. I need my car repaired thank you”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2024EngineODI 11569963

Electrical system

9 reports1 fire
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2022Electrical system, StructureODI 11494294

Vehicle speed control

9 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 SCION XB. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS ALSO AT A STOP LIGHT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED VICTORVILLE MOTORS AT (760) 733-8484 (LOCATED AT 14617 CIVIC DR, VICTORVILLE, CA 92394), BUT DID NOT RECALL WHAT WAS DISCUSSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18E091000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE ARM AND LEFT SHOULDER. THE FRONT PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND A WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED VICTORVILLE MOTORS AGAIN, BUT THEY DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2018Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11153950

Service brakes

7 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION XB. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ROLL BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BURNED FOUR QUARTS OF OIL WITHIN 3,500 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED TO UNDERGO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. AFTER THE TEST, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2016Service brakes, EngineODI 10836456

Service brakes, hydraulic

7 reports1 crash1 related recall
“ABS,PARKING BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, VERTICAL STABILITY LIGHTS CAME ON AND NOSE IN THE CAR. IN SAME TIME COMPLETELY DISABLE ABS AND VERTICAL STABILITY SYSTEMS. LIGHTS DISAPPEARED LATER FOR A WEEK AND CAME BACK ON. OVER THE TIME THIS CYCLE APPEARS MORE FREQUENTLY SOMETIMES BEFORE LIGHTS APPEAR I LOST ABILITY TO BRAKE A VEHICLE TILL I FULLY RELEASE A BRAKE PEDAL. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID I HAVE TO CHANGE 2 REAR HUB ASSEMBLES, BECAUSE OF SENSORS, SOME CORRODED WIRES AND COMPUTER. THEIR ESTIMATE WAS ALMOST 15% OF THE PRICE OF BAND NEW CAR. I HAD TO GIVE MY CAR TO MY RELATIVE WHO WORKS FOR VOLVO DEALER. ONE OF MY REAR WHEEL BEARING WERE BAD WE REPLACE WITH GENUINE TOYOTA PART. WHILE WE REPAIR WE SAW WIRE CONNECTION WHICH GOES TO REAR SENSOR WERE CORRODED AND SENSOR CONNECTION WERE ALSO CORRODED BECAUSE OF WATER DAMAGE WHICH CAN LEAK THOUGH THIS TYPE OF CONNECTION. THE HUB WE HAD REPLACE OF AMOUNT OF CORRODE HUB CONNECTION BROKE. NEW HUB DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO ANOTHER SENSOR IS ALSO CORRODE EVEN IF THE WHEEL BEARING IS GOOD. ONE MORE THING THE ABS SENSOR IS A PART OF HUB ASSEMBLY AND COULD NOT BE REPLACE ITSELF. I TALK TO TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND SHE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10390331
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

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