2005 Scion Xb Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Scion Xb, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure2420.0%
- Visibility1613.3%
- Airbags1512.5%
- Driver assistance1310.8%
- Electrical119.2%
- Engine108.3%
- Interior & seats86.7%
- Brakes65.0%
- Seat belts54.2%
- Exterior lighting43.3%
- Tires & wheels43.3%
- Fuel system32.5%
- Other / unspecified10.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR SUB FRAME WHERE THE REAR AXLE MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE RUST OUT. ALSO SIDE ROCKERS ROT OUT DUE TO POOR DRAINAGE OF PLASTIC SIDE SKIRTS
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.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
BY 2011, BOTH BACK WINDOWS INOPERABLE (MOTOR BURNED OUT DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES) AND I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING AND ELECTRICAL DASH DISPLAY. THE DEALER (AVENUES TOYOTA IN JACKSONVILLE, FL) SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL TOYOTA DIRECTLY ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $500 EACH TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN BOTH BACK WINDOWS AND CLAIMS THERE ARE NO ISSUES THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF AT THIS TIME. I FOUND NUMEROUS CLAIMS ON THE INTERNET TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AND THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES EXTEND THROUGHOUT THE TOYOTA LINE DURING THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *TR
2005 SCION XB WINDSHIELD. ROCK CHIPS TURN INTO HUGE CRACKS! I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WINDSHIELD DO THIS. WHAT WOULD THE POINT BE IN REPLACING IT?! ARE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR THESE WINDSHIELDS? *TR
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I first reported the break, airbag, and acceleration failure on my brand new 2005 Scion XB on June 20, 2005. I only had the Daihatsu/ Toyota two week when a driver in front of me stopped short at a Yield sign forcing me to slam on my brakes. immediately heard the sound of metal snapping and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I pumped the pedal to the floor but there was no resistance. The vehicle immediately accelerated, and I struck the rear of Ford Explorer at about 30-35 miles per hour. I suffered catastrophic injuries. I filed complaints at every level of government possible, but no one would investigate my claims. My FDFS complaint dated [XXX] might be the first to accurately report and describe causation regarding of these known defects sold by Toyota/Daihatsu with willful intent to defraud the public by fraudulent concealment of these known Defective Products. Toyota/ Daihatsu's Top Brass had full knowledge of the danger they were selling to the American Public under the Toyota Brand built on Safety. In a criminal conspiracy designed to defraud the U,S. Government by importing and selling 200,000 Scion models 2003, 2004, 2005 without safety crash testing thru Project Genesis. Toyota/Daihatsu didn't just cheat on safety testing on these models they failed to perform any safety crash testing until the model change in 2006 then just included all models 2003, 2004, 2005 into the 2006 rating applying those standards to all models. The information is overt and online just google 2005 XB crash test. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I rolled the car three times and almost died on [XXX]. The airbags did not deploy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SCION XB . AS I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP MY CAR ACCELERATED RIGHT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A BARBWIRE FENCE.. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE ENGINE ACCELERATED . THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL; TRACTION CONTROL; CHECK ENGINE ALL LIT UP.I GOT THE CAR STARTED, BUT IT RAN HOT AND STARTED SMOKING AND WOULD NOT HOLD SPEED. *TR
DRIVING ABOUT 4 MILES AN HOUR, THE ACCELERATOR OVER POWERED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. RPM'S WHERE MAXED EVEN AFTER THE INITIAL COLLISION. WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND IN PARK, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD ANOTHER 3 -4 FEET TO HIT THE SAME CAR AGAIN. THE CAR WILL STILL MOVE WITH THE E-BRAKE OPERATED AND FULL FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY SCION SB HAS HAD THE REAR HATCH LOCK, AND LIGHTING WITH LICENSE PLATE BREAK 5 TIMES, SCION DEALER DID IT FIRST AND CHARGED $599.00. SINCE THEN I HAVE BOUGHT THE PARTS AND DID THE WORK MYSELF. *TR
THE REAR TRUCK RELEASE OF THE SCION XB'S FAIL FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 2005 AND TOYOTA SAYS ITS NOT THEIR FAULT. *TR
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I first reported the break, airbag, and acceleration failure on my brand new 2005 Scion XB on June 20, 2005. I only had the Daihatsu/ Toyota two week when a driver in front of me stopped short at a Yield sign forcing me to slam on my brakes. immediately heard the sound of metal snapping and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I pumped the pedal to the floor but there was no resistance. The vehicle immediately accelerated, and I struck the rear of Ford Explorer at about 30-35 miles per hour. I suffered catastrophic injuries. I filed complaints at every level of government possible, but no one would investigate my claims. My FDFS complaint dated [XXX] might be the first to accurately report and describe causation regarding of these known defects sold by Toyota/Daihatsu with willful intent to defraud the public by fraudulent concealment of these known Defective Products. Toyota/ Daihatsu's Top Brass had full knowledge of the danger they were selling to the American Public under the Toyota Brand built on Safety. In a criminal conspiracy designed to defraud the U,S. Government by importing and selling 200,000 Scion models 2003, 2004, 2005 without safety crash testing thru Project Genesis. Toyota/Daihatsu didn't just cheat on safety testing on these models they failed to perform any safety crash testing until the model change in 2006 then just included all models 2003, 2004, 2005 into the 2006 rating applying those standards to all models. The information is overt and online just google 2005 XB crash test. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ACCIDENT INVOLVED ON HWY TRAVELING 65 -70 MILES, RAINY CONDITIONS, CAR WAS IN MOTION AND SKIDDED A UNKNOWN LENGTH, HITTING THE REAR END OF A STOPPED VEHICLE ON FREEWAY, AND 3X LARGER IN SIZE THAN THE SCION. THE AIR BAG ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER HAS SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK, SPINE,LEGS AND CHEST. THERE WAS NOT A PASSENGER. THE SCION HAS BEEN DEEMED TOTALED AT A LOSS. THE INJURIES SUSTAINED WERE DUE TO NOT BEING PROTECTED FROM THE AIRBAG.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I first reported the break, airbag, and acceleration failure on my brand new 2005 Scion XB on June 20, 2005. I only had the Daihatsu/ Toyota two week when a driver in front of me stopped short at a Yield sign forcing me to slam on my brakes. immediately heard the sound of metal snapping and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I pumped the pedal to the floor but there was no resistance. The vehicle immediately accelerated, and I struck the rear of Ford Explorer at about 30-35 miles per hour. I suffered catastrophic injuries. I filed complaints at every level of government possible, but no one would investigate my claims. My FDFS complaint dated [XXX] might be the first to accurately report and describe causation regarding of these known defects sold by Toyota/Daihatsu with willful intent to defraud the public by fraudulent concealment of these known Defective Products. Toyota/ Daihatsu's Top Brass had full knowledge of the danger they were selling to the American Public under the Toyota Brand built on Safety. In a criminal conspiracy designed to defraud the U,S. Government by importing and selling 200,000 Scion models 2003, 2004, 2005 without safety crash testing thru Project Genesis. Toyota/Daihatsu didn't just cheat on safety testing on these models they failed to perform any safety crash testing until the model change in 2006 then just included all models 2003, 2004, 2005 into the 2006 rating applying those standards to all models. The information is overt and online just google 2005 XB crash test. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
I DRIVE A 2005 SCION XB, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THE BACK HATCH HANDLE BROKE OF, WHERE THE LIGHT SHINE TO THE LICENSE PLATE. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HANDLE LIKE THREE YEARS AGO... I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED, THEY DON'T SEE A RECALL EVER BEEN DONE. I DO SEE THIS AS A SAFETY DO TO LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER SCION LIKE THE ONE I HAVE. SOME DID GET A RECALL AND GOT FIXED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
2005 SCION XB WE HAVE HAD TO PUT THREE WINDSHIELDS IN, FOUR SETS OF TIRES AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT. WE JUST SPENT TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT HAD TO HAVE THE SEAT BELTS DONE, THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK ALL THE TIME AND WE NEVER GOT RECALL LETTERS, I WENT ON LINE. I AM SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY SON. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE THREE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL ON THIS IS AND WE HAVE CHECKED THE TIRES DAILY. I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION HERE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCHBACK HANDLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE OTHER FOUR DOOR LOCKS TO BECOME DISABLED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE HOLES WHERE THE HATCHBACK HANDLE WAS FRACTURED AND THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,120.
WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY WITH FULL ACCELERATION THE GAS PEDAL STUCK. THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IT FINALLY UNSTUCK. SCION XB 2005 SOON AFTER THIS HAPPENED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (SERVICE ENGINE BRAKE LIGHT ETC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE COMPUTER FAILURE BUT IT DID HAPPEN AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
2005 SCION XB WE HAVE HAD TO PUT THREE WINDSHIELDS IN, FOUR SETS OF TIRES AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT. WE JUST SPENT TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT HAD TO HAVE THE SEAT BELTS DONE, THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK ALL THE TIME AND WE NEVER GOT RECALL LETTERS, I WENT ON LINE. I AM SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY SON. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE THREE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL ON THIS IS AND WE HAVE CHECKED THE TIRES DAILY. I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION HERE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .