RoadVitals

2005 Scion Xb Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Oct 5, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 92 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Scion Xb submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 5, 2013
Fire reported

MY SCION OVERHEATED,LOST OIL PRESSURE DUE TO WHATEVER DAMAGE THE OVERHEATING CAUSED AND I'VE HAD A LOW BATTERY CHARGE ALL THIS TIME BUT NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE INDICATED BY ANY GAUGE OR LIGHT ON MY DASH. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10546868
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Mileage
60 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2013

I OWN 2005 SCION XB FIRST INCIDENT -THURSDAY EVENING 6:30 PM, JULY 11, 2013 IN MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY ITSELF TO 40-45 MPH. I BRAKED (FOOT BRAKE, HAND BRAKE & USING GEAR) BEFORE ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY IT STOPPED WITH A LOUD BRAKING NOISE; I ENDED UP CLOSE TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET BUT STILL NOT CLEAR FROM THE TRAFFIC LANE. I TRIED TO RESTART AND MOVE OUT OF THE WAY BUT THE ACCELERATION SOUND WAS HORRIBLE AND THE GEAR WAS LOCKED UP. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, FLIPPING THE SPRING LOADED CABLE BACK AND FORTH, AND IT SEEMED TO BE LOOSE ON THE CABLE SPOOL. I THEN RE-STARTED THE CAR, BUT IT WAS STILL REVVING VERY FAST, SO I TURNED IT OFF AND CONTINUED FLIPPING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE UNTIL IT APPEARED TO BE TIGHTER. WHEN I RE-STARTED IT THIS TIME IT WAS RUNNING NORMALLY AT REDUCED RPMS ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER THE INCIDENT. I DROVE BACK HOME SLOWLY (ONE MILE AWAY) ON THE CITY STREETS. I DROVE IT SLOWLY TO AUTO SHOP THE NEXT DAY. CHECKED BY MTZ AUTOMOTIVE IN MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA ON FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. BUT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE. DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. CHECKING ONLINE AND FOUND YOUR WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10525507
Incident
Jul 11, 2013
Mileage
133,246 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, TSC AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REPAIR THE EXACT SAME WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,900.

NHTSA ID
10323828
Incident
Mar 3, 2010
Mileage
59,900 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XB. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIP OF THE MUFFLER WOULD SPORADICALLY CRACK AND THEN FALL OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE AND THEY REPLACED THE EXHAUST. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AT THE COST OF $439. THE MANUFACTURERS OF THE VEHICLE AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,320 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,040.

NHTSA ID
10229509
Incident
Jun 15, 2007
Mileage
27,320 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 13, 2008

VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL; TRACTION CONTROL; CHECK ENGINE HAVE ALL LIT UP. THIS FIRST OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2007 THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THEY "FIXED IT" BY REPLACING SOMETHING WITH MY CAM SHAFT? THEY STATED IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF A RECALL. JANUARY 1, 2008 THE LIGHTS ALL REAPPEARED, I BROUGHT IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG AND THAT THE LIGHTS RESET THEMSELVES. NOW FEBRUARY 13, 2008 THE LIGHTS HAVE COME BACK ON AGAIN ACCOMPANIED BY A VERY LOUD SQUEALING COMING FROM MY STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10217988
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Mileage
57,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 28, 2007

THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL; TRACTION CONTROL; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAVE COME ON AND REMAINED ON. THE LIGHT WAS TEMPORARILY DEACTIVATED WHEN A CAM GEAR WAS REPLACED AT WAGNER TOYOTA IN LANCASTER MA. THE ERROR CODE RETURNED AND HAS REMAINED ON DESPITE LEAVING THE CAR AT GATORLAND TOYOTA IN GAINESVILLE FL ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER AFTER FIRST REPLACING THE COMPUTER ADVISED ME THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR MY CAR. I AM UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE VSC OR THE TRACTION CONTROL IS OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME (SAFETY CONCERN). *TR

NHTSA ID
10204370
Incident
Aug 8, 2007
Mileage
36,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2007

JUNE 19, 2007 I NOTICED THAT MY MUFFLER WAS LOUDER THAN USUAL AND NOTICED THAT THE TIP OF MY MUFFLER WAS MISSING. I OWN A SCION 2005 XB RELEASE SERIES 2.0 VEHICLE. THERE WERE 2500 OF THESE CARS MANUFACTURED AND THEY HAVE A SPECIAL DC SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEALER INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. UPON LOOKING AT THE WEB SITE ENTITLED SCIONLIFE.COM, I FOUND A FORUM THAT CONTAINED MANY SCION XB RELEASE SERIES 2.0 OWNERS WHOSE MUFFLER TIPS HAD COME APART. I PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALER. THE NOISE INSIDE MY VEHICLE CAN BE OPPRESSIVE WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL. JULY 6, 2007 THE DEALER STATES THAT HE IS ORDERING A MUFFLER AND THAT IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. AS OF JULY 19, THE PART IS STILL ON ORDER. AFTER SEEING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MUFFLER ON THESE VEHICLES, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE MUFFLER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED BY A FLYING MUFFLER TIP. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THESE MUFFLERS WITH A SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10197041
Incident
Jun 19, 2007
Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2007

I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON DELAWARE STATE HIGHWAY 1 TOWARDS OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND, MAINTAINED A CONSTANT SPEED OF 50 MPH WHEN THE TAIL PIPE ON THE SCION XB 2005 RELEASED SERIES 2.0 FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IT BOUNCED AGAINST THE ROAD, FLEW UP, AND HIT THE SUV DRIVING BEHIND ME IN THE WINDSHIELD. FORTUNATELY, THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT CRACK, AND THE DRIVER , AFTER WE BOTH PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, DROVE OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION WITH FREQUENT ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, I NOTE THAT POOR WELDING ON THE TAIL PIPES OF THE RELEASE SERIES 2.0 HAS BEEN RECORDED FREQUENTLY ONLINE. SEE, HTTP://WWW.SCIONLIFE.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=105750. ONLY 2500 OF THE CARS WITH THIS MUFFLER WERE PRODUCED, AND OVER A DOZEN COMPLAINTS WERE EASILY OBSERVABLE ONLINE. I WAS HAPPY THAT THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS AN SUV INSTEAD OF A MOTORCYCLE, AS THE FLYING TAILPIPE COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED A MOTORCYCLE DRIVER. I AM PRESENTLY ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE PART, BUT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT IT WA SNO LONGER AVAILABLE. SCION HAS REPLIED THAT THE DEALER NEEDED TO SEARCH FOR THE PART NUMBER VIA THE VIN NUMBER, AND I AM AWAITING THE RESULT ON THIS COUNT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10195424
Incident
Jul 3, 2007
Mileage
45,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 21, 2006

THE SCION TC WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A MAJOR FLAW WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND DRIVEN SLOWLY. THE ENGINE BUCKS AND JERKS VIOLENTLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP. IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN WHEN DRIVEN SLOWLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. THE VEHICLE WILL BUCK AND JERK, VIOLENTLY SOME TIMES, UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE NEEDLE MOVES. IT HAPPENS IN SUMMER AND WINTER AND IS OK WHEN THE ENGINE IS EVENTUALLY WARMED UP. THE DEALER CAN DO NOTHING FOR IT AS THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING IS FIXED BY TOYOTA. *NM

NHTSA ID
10150779
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Mileage
250 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2006

THERE IS A DRIVING PROBLEM WITH A NEW CAR WHEN STARTING IT WITH A COLD ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BUCKS AND JERKS WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED UNTIL THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT PRODUCE TROUBLE CODES. THEREFORE, THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS OPERATING NORMALLY ALTHOUGH THE JERKING AND BUCKING IS QUITE DISRUPTIVE AND NOT AT ALL NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10148718
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Mileage
275 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .