2009 Scion Xd Owner Complaints

Drove car and heard loud noise issuing from the passenger side rear. Upon viewing the wheel was angled in at the top. After removing the wheel I found the rear crossmember subframe axle had a complete break in the weld holding the angle from the straight part of the beam to the wheel and suspension plate. After going online to see if similar issues happen on the same side of the vehicle, I found many reports of weld failures on the same side at the same joint. This is an EXTREMELY dangerous weld failure--if it had happened during highway travel the potential for catastrophic injury or death is high, in my opinion. Please investigate other reports to the NTSB about this make and model, and please search model years on or about 2007-2012 as other scion owners have had the same issue. This is a one owner car, we purchased it new in 2009. The opposite weld is also showing signs of stress, but not broken or cracked.

NHTSA ID

11655620

Incident

Apr 18, 2025

A major safety structural defect has developed in the rear axle beam. About 50 percent of the welds failed where the passenger side swing arm attaches to the rest of the axle. The lack of support ended up creating about a three inch stress crack across the width of the swing arm tube. This could have led to a complete failure of the swing arm, had I not found the problem. Had this failure occurred on the highway, it might have caused a serious accident. A month prior I started hearing a pop from the rear of the car each time I would back out of the driveway and the first time I went forward. I crawled under the car within about two weeks and checked things over but found nothing. I thought it might have been a coil spring shifting in its seat or a shock absorber with an internal problem. The noise continued and was getting a bit louder each time it occurred. I ended up lifting the back of the car and pulling the rear wheels. I first found the stress crack across the swing arm tube. Upon further inspection, I realized a portion of the welds had failed. The car is 14 years old and has 159k miles. There is rust that is contributing to the deterioration of the connection, yet the design of the swing arm and its connections seem as though they are barely sufficient when it was new. The design of the swing arm connections does not appear sufficient to be exposed to normal wear and tear of winter driving. In searching for a replacement part, this same exact swing arm is also used on the Toyota Prius C and a Yaris model. So this issue could be occurring on those models as well.

NHTSA ID

11522154

Incident

May 12, 2023

A RECA FOR MY POWER SWITCH MASTER CONTROL WAS ISSUED ON SEPT 15TH 2015 AND A FIX FOR THIS STILL HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED. THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11413066

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

2009 TOYOTA SCION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE RADIO INDEPENDENTLY TURNED ON AND OF AND THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. *JS

NHTSA ID

11373373

Incident

Nov 9, 2020

FIX FOR WINDOW LUBRICANT ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, EVEN THOUGH RECALL IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ID

11043351

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION XD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.

NHTSA ID

10968220

Incident

Oct 16, 2016

Mileage

49,500 mi

THE DEALER THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR ONLY DOES RECALL WORK DURING THE WEEK I UNFORTUNATELY WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. WHICH I CAN NOT TAKE TIME OFF FOR AS THEY SAY IT MIGHT TAKE ALL DAY AND I DEPEND ON MY CAR FOR BUSINESS I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE MANAGER AT AUTONATION TOYOTA IN FORT MYERS FLORIDA BUT WAS TOLD THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AS THERE ARE 2 SAFETY RECALLS ONE INVOLVING MY SEATS AND THE OTHER INVOLVING A WINDOW SWITCH THAT COULD CATCH FIRE. I ORIGINALLY TRIED IN NOVEMBER TO SCHEDULE THIS BUT TO NO AVAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10934146

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION XD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,283. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF CONSUMER STATED MOTOR SHUT DOWN, ITS LOCATED IN THE GAS LINE/ FUEL LINE WITH HAVING MORE THAN 1 MOTOR AND NOT BE TOLD. POWER WINDOWS ON PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS WHERE THE 2ND AIR FILTER AND CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT AIR FILTER THAT FITS. CAR SOUND SYSTEM WOULD STOP WORKING AT TIMES. UPDATED 6/13/18*JB

NHTSA ID

10876887

Incident

Sep 12, 2015

Mileage

113,283 mi

WHEN I TRIED TO ROLL THE PASSENGER WINDOW DOWN, A PLUME OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE MASTER CONTROL PANEL. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING IT, BUT THE BUTTON FROZE INTO PLACE. I TOOK MY SCION INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR 2 RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS (DRIVER'S SEAT RAILING AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY) AND MENTIONED THE WINDOW CONTROL PANEL PROBLEM AND MY CONCERN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A RISK OF A FIRE. THE SERVICE TECH SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL? I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT MY CAR IS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE AND AM CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE NEWER MODEL SCION XDS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10670886

Incident

Dec 31, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

WHILE CAR RUNNING ON THE LOCAL ROAD, APPROX. 40 MPH, REAR WINDOW FROM DRIVER SIDE ROLLED DOWN ITSELF AND A LOT OF SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH CONTROLS AND FROM DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, INSIDE. TWO OF FOUR SWITCHES FROM MASTER SWITCH CONTROL THEN MELTED AND PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN, SEEMS LIKE THE BOTTOM PART OF THOSE SWITCHES CAUGHT FIRES OR SOMETHING, HOWEVER, NO FIRE WAS VISIBLE FROM THE EXTERIOR. WAS THEN PULLED TO THE BUSINESS PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE THEN SLOWLY STOPPED. CAR TOWED TO AND PARKED AT LOCAL TOYOTA/ SCION DEALER SIDE WAY, SERVICE CONSULTANT CHECKED MY VIN AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR VIN. (VISIBILITY: POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS RECALL DATE: 10/10/2012 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS PARTICULAR VIN) WAS THEN CONTACTED SCION RECALL SAME DAY AND THEY STARTED A FIRE CASE FOR INVESTIGATION, 3 DAYS LATER CASE MANAGER LETTING ME KNOW THAT TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES COULD TAKE UP TO A MONTH? THEY WANTED TO HOLD MY CAR AT THE DEALER UNTIL INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED, WITHOUT AN ESTIMATE OF COMPLETION DATE AND THEY OFFERED NO LOANER CAR OR RENTAL REIMBURSEMENT? WHY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V491000 -- AFFECTED -- TOYOTA SCION XD 2008-2009 -- THEN WHY THIS VIN WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10668067

Incident

Dec 19, 2014

Mileage

66,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION XD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PUSHING THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BUTTON, THE WINDOW OPENED AND FAILED TO CLOSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE WINDOW BUT FAILED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V491000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10617178

Incident

May 15, 2014

Mileage

360,000 mi

I HAVE A 2009 SCION XD WITH ONLY 26,000 AND A CLEAN TITLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH WHICH NEARLY GOT ME IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. TURNS OUT THE WATER PUMP WAS THE CULPRIT AND SCION WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAULTY PUMP DESPITE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT. AFTER PAYING FOR A NEW WATER PUMP TO BE INSTALLED, I NOTICED SOMETHING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE HITTING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE NOISE GOT WORSE AND WORSE AND A SOMETHING CAME OUT AND FLEW OFF THE CAR, NEARLY HITTING THE VEHICLE DRIVING BEHIND ME AND CAUSED THEM TO SWERVE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. PLASTIC AND RUBBER PARTS FROM NEAR THE WHEEL WELL WERE MANGLED AND FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE CHEAP PLASTIC AND FASTENERS WERE POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND ATTACHED TO CLOSE TO THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSE THEM TO BECOME DESTROYED EVERY TIME I MADE SHARP TURNS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, AFTER SOLVING THE PROBLEM, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY THE VERY NEXT DAY, EXCEPT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SCION WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR POOR CONSTRUCTION AND CHEAP PARTS THAT COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOMEONE KILLED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10598002

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

Mileage

26,000 mi

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (AT CONCORD TOYOTA, CONCORD, CA), MY POWER LOCKS STARTED MALFUNCTIONING ONE BY ONE. THEY FIXED IT BECAUSE I WAS STILL ON THE FACTORY WARRANTY, BUT A YEAR LATER, THE FRONT LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THEY WERE FIXED. IN 2013, THE TWO FRONT LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS, NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AROUND $500 TO FIX EACH LOCK. NOT ONLY IS IT NOT FAIR BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING CONTINUOUSLY FOR YEARS, BUT NOW THE BACK DOOR LOCKS STOP AND START WORKING AT RANDOM ALL THE TIME. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10592272

Incident

May 21, 2010

LEAKING WATER PUMP. THE PUMP STARTING LEAKING AROUND 31,000 MILES. IT WAS A MINOR WEEP FROM THE DRAIN HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PUMP AT THAT TIME. AT 40071 MILES THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY ON THE XD HAD LAPSED BY FOUR MONTHS. TOYOTA WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584564

Incident

Jan 24, 2014

Mileage

40,071 mi

WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL TOO QUICKLY, DOWN SHIFT TO PASSING SPEED AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP WITH MY TOE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THE PAST, EACH TIME WHEN STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL QUICKLY TO PASS. FORTUNATELY, I DO NOT NEED TO SPEED UP QUICKLY TO PASS OFTEN.

NHTSA ID

10584826

Incident

Apr 14, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

MAJOR LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 20 TIMES THE PAST FEW WEEKS. LUCKILY, EACH TIME, I MANAGED TO GET INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING. TURNING OFF AND ON THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES RETURNED IT TO NORMAL OPERATION. SOME TIMES, THE ENGINEWAS 'RACING' WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON. AND OTHER TIMES, I HAD TO PERFORMMULTIPLE OFF-ON CYCLING OF THE ENGINE BEFORE NORMAL BEHAVOIR WAS RESTORED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS BEHAVIOR ALSO OCCURRED A FEW TIMES LAST YEARBUT SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT REMAIN ON, I WASN'T SURE THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT THE RECENT HOT WEATHER WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROBLEM TO OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ACTON TOYOTA FOR 7/20/2013. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING CAUSED BY A FAILED THROTTLE BODY AND PARTS ARE ON ORDER. THEY SAID THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE $1300. SO, I'M NOW RESEARCHING WHETHER THIS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM OF THE TOYOTA ECONOMIC LOSS SETTLEMENT THAT RECEIVED FINAL APPROVAL BY THE FEDERAL COURT ON 7/19/2013. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A THROTTLE BODY TO FAIL ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 36K MILES AND 4 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10526055

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

Mileage

36,000 mi

ON NOV 11, 2012 I WAS BACKING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FELT SOMETHING UNDER MY FOOT ACCELERATE. MY SCION SURGED BACKWARDS OUT OF CONTROL. BY THE TIME I GOT IT STOPPED I HAD RUN OVER AND DESTROYED MY PICNIC TABLE ALSO DOING DAMAGE TO THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT A POSTCARD A COUPLE DAYS AGO REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION I REALIZED WAS TOYOTA WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION AND I SHOULD REPORT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505008

Incident

Nov 11, 2012

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION XD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK AN ANIMAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY SWAYED OFF OF THE ROAD OVER AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED AT AN 90 DEGREE ANGLE WHERE THE FRONT END CRASHED TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN NOSE AND SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE FACE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN ENGINEER TO PERFORM AN INVESTIGATION RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 03/11/13

NHTSA ID

10480649

Incident

Oct 8, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY BRAKES ON MY 2009 SCION XD STARTED MAKE NOISE AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES , BROUGHT TO DEALER . WAS TOLD THAT BRAKES GO BAD ALL THE TIME AT 25,000 MILES.WELL THAT'S A RED FLAG TO START WITH. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT I MUST RIDE MY BRAKES . I ONLY HAVE ONE LEG SO THAT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO DO. THEY PULLED MY BRAKES OFF AND FOUND THAT I STILL HAD ABOUT 5MM OF PAD AND MY ROTORS NEEDED TURNING AND I NEEDED NEW PADS . WELL I STILL HAD PADS LEFT BUT THE ROTORS STILL NEEDED TURNING. SO I THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ROTORS TO FAIL THAT FAST AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I HAD THE WORK DONE AT AVONDALE TOYOTA 10005 W PAPAGO FREEWAY AVONDALE, 85323 . IT COST ME 245.21 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WORE OUT WAY TO SOON INVOICE # [XXX] MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10447680

Incident

Dec 9, 2011

Mileage

25,000 mi

FREQUENT LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN TIRE. LOCAL TIRE COMPANY CHECKS TIRE AND REPORTED THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384686

Incident

Feb 26, 2011

Mileage

16 mi

MY SISTER'S TOYOTA SCIONS XD WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI CARS ACCIDENT ON SEPT. 9, 2010 AROUND 6:00 PM. THE SCIONS WAS FIRST INVOLVED INTO 1 SUDDEN AND RIGHT AFTERWARD THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CLOSED TO 100 MPH AND IT WENT ABOUT QUARTER MILE BEFORE IT HIT ANOTHER CAR. IT FINALLY STOPPED WHEN THE CAR HIT A ROAD GUIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360016

Incident

Sep 9, 2010

Mileage

4,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP TIRES , SIZE 195/16/60R, DOT# 3MDR4409. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND WITHIN IN MINUTES, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6500.

NHTSA ID

10303907

Incident

Dec 25, 2009

Mileage

6,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA SCION XD WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2009 IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. HE REVIEWED RECALLS ON THE INTERNET FOR HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL PERTAINING TO THOSE SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT STATES." HE STATED THAT HE DRIVES THE VEHICLE TO NEW YORK OFTEN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE STATES LISTED IN THE RECALL. HE WAS CONCERNED WITH HIS SAFETY BECAUSE WHEN DRIVING UNDER CERTAIN UNIQUE CONDITIONS IN EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SUCTION PORT FOR THE BRAKE VACUUM COULD BECOME BLOCKED DUE TO THE FREEZING OF CONDENSATION RESULTING FROM POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION. HE FELT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL STATES, KEEPING IN MIND THAT PEOPLE TRAVEL AND RELOCATE TO OTHER STATES THAT ARE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID

10294227

Incident

Nov 20, 2009

Mileage

15,000 mi