Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Scion Xb submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 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.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
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.
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
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.
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.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION XB. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE PULLING OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XB. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,063.
THE INITIAL INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON PARTIALLY SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEMS DID NOT WORK, AND THE BRAKE, ABS AND VSC LIGHTS CAME ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED OFF, THEY REMAINED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, THEN THE ABS AND VSC SYSTEMS FAILED AGAIN AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS FAIRLY REGULARLY, SIX TO EIGHT TIMES PER YEAR. I WAS QUOTED A COST OF AROUND $1200 TO REPLACE THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLIES AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED, WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
VEHICLE'S REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CONNECTORS GET CORRODED BY ROAD SALT, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF CAR'S COMPUTER TO REGISTER SPEED OF REAR WHEELS. THEREFORE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. TOYOTA RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND CORRECTED THE DESIGN FLAW ON LATER SCION XB MODELS. (S-SB-0040-09 JULY 6, 2009). *TR
SALT AND SNOW CAUSES ERROR CODES C0210, REAR SPEED SENSOR RH CIRCUIT TO MALFUNCTION AND SHUTS DOWN THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ALL SAFETY DEVICES ARE OFF WHEN SALT IS USED ON ROADWAYS. SALT AND SNOW CAUSES ERROR CODES C0215, REAR SPEED SENSOR LH CIRCUIT TO MALFUNCTION AND SHUTS DOWN THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ALL SAFETY DEVICES ARE OFF WHEN SALT IS USED ON ROADWAYS. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH 2008-2009 SCION XB, TOYOTA TSB S-SB-0040-09, JULY 6,2009 **THE CONNECTORS FOR THESE SENSORS ARE EXPOSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT, CAUSING NON DEPLOYMENT OF SAFETY DEVICES LEADING UP TO, AND DURING A CRASH** *TR
AFTER AROUND 50K MILES, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS ABOUT A QUART LOW WHEN TAKING IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. AT THE TIME I WAS TOLD PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION. I'VE OWNED MANY VEHICLES IN THE PAST, OLD AND NEW, AND NEVER HAD ONE THAT USED THIS MUCH OIL. IF ANY OF THEM DID USE OIL, IT WAS A SMALL ENOUGH AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THE DIPSTICK. SO, WITH THEIR EXPLANATION I MOVED ON. AS TIME WENT ON, IT SEEMED MORE AND MORE OIL WAS BEING USED BY THE ENGINE. NOW AFTER THE WARRANTY WOULD NO LONGER COVER SUCH A THING, I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, WHICH I DID NOT DO SINCE ANY PROBLEM THEY DISCOVER WOULD COME OUT OF MY POCKET. AS TIME PROGRESSES, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO CHECK THE OIL EVERY WEEK AND ADD OIL. I LEARNED THAT IF I WAIT FOR THE NEXT OIL CHANGE @ 3000 MILES, THERE IS NO OIL LEFT IN THE ENGINE. WHAT'S EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS THAT THERE IS NO INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG. I WOULD SUSPECT THE OIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON AT SOME POINT, BUT NEVER HAVE I SEEN THIS LIGHT, OR ANY OTHER LIGHT COME ON INDICATING AN ISSUE. TO SUM IT UP, THERE ARE NO LEAKS, THE ENGINE WILL CONSUME ALL OF THE OIL WITHIN 3000 MILES IF NOT MONITORED, AND THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A PROBLEM. *TR
BRAKE, ABS, VSC & TRAC WARNING LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME. EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN PASSENGER SIDE REAR HUB SENSOR CONNECTOR THAT CORRODED ELECTRICAL CONTACTS INSIDE CONNECTOR. TOYOTA DEALER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ALSO TOYOTA WAS NOT PAYING FOR OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *JS
AFTER A SNOWSTORM, MY ABS, VSC, STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. STAYED ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC, THEY WENT OUT. HE SUSPECTS ICE BUILD UP. RAN SCAN. IT SHOWS RIGHT REAR WHEEL SENSOR PROBLEM. LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SON'S CAR IS IN SHOP FOR GM IGNITION RECALL FOR OVER A MONTH NOW. SO HE DROVE MY SCION TO COLLEGE. CALLED ME AND SAID LIGHTS WERE ON AGAIN. I CALLED MECHANIC, HE FEELS IT COULD BE WHEEL BEARING OR SPEED SENSOR IN THAT WHEEL, EITHER RUST OR CORROSION DUE TO INTERMITTENT LIGHTS. HE CHECKED IT AGAIN. NOW VSC AND TRACTION LIGHTS ARE ON ANYTIME CAR IS DRIVE. I AM TAKING IT IN TODAY FOR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT. AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS MY DREAM CAR!!! TOYOTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY! *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF THESE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE LIGHTS ON ARE THE BRAKE LIGHT, THE ABS. THE SKID CONTROL, AND THE VSC. THESE LIGHTS CAME ON DURING THE WINTER AND WENT BACK OUT SEVERAL TIMES. DURING JANUARY THEY CAME ON AND HAVE NOT GONE OUT SENSE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THE CAR FAX REPORT HAD SAID THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY. I AM UNSURE IF IT IS CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS BUT WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY SAFETY PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH THESE LIGHTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, STEERING CONTROL LIGHT, AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 06/24/14 MA UPDATED 06/25/2014 *JS
MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A SCION/TOYOTA EXPECTING BETTER RELIABILITY. WHILE MY WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER ASSIST. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION. IT IS GOING TO BE A FAIRLY COSTLY REPAIR. IT IS UNFORTUNATE TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE SOMETHING TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS. DUE TO THE FACT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A HIGH FAILURE RATE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AT 20MPH OFF A RAMP ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND I HAD TO JAM ON MY BRAKES TO STOP MY CAR FAST OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE WENT OFF THE SIDE DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED. THANK GOD I WAS NOT GOING FAST OR I WOULDN'T BE HERE. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME HERE WE GO AGAIN 2ND TIME AFTER I FIX IT REPLACED THE STEERING COMPUTER BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER THE DASH, WORKED GREAT FOR ABOUT A DAY,NOW I START THE CAR THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE LIGHT GOES OUT BUT I HAVE STEERING. PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL LIGHT COMES ON,PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE LIGHT GOES OUT. IM SO PISSED OFF ABOUT THIS I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS CAR AND NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. WHAT KIND OF CARS DO TOYOTA SELL. THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THESE STEERING PROBLEMS NOT ME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
I WAS ON A FOURWAY STOP AT 36 ST AND 7TH AVE THE CAR TO MY LEFT ON THE DRIVER SIDE RAN THE STOP SIGN AND I HIT THE CAR ON THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, FLAMES WERE SEEN FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SWITCH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
WHILE DRIVING THE WIRES SPARKED THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON THEN FIRE STARTED THE WHOLE HALF OF CAR WAS BURNT BY THE TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ARRIVED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL FIRE THE WHOLE FRONT WAS MELTED I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE CAR A LIVE EVERY THING HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND HE WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL OF THE SERVICE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY DIED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AIR BAG AND THE ANTI BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR, WIRE, HUB, BEARING ASSEMBLY AND REAR AXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 SCION XB. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH IN SNOWY WEATHER WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING COMPONENT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE LOST ALL TRACTION CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED CORROSION ON THE SPEED SENSOR AND HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LOCATED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE SPEED SENSOR HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,132.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CORRODED CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WARNING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD NOT HAVE CORROSION ON IT SINCE THAT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CORROSION WAS DUE TO SALT. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,900. UPDATED 3/1/11 *CN UPDATED 05/23/11
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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