MYRModel Year Report

2008 Scion xB

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2008 Scion xB
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
339
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2008

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

39% of complaints

Complaints per year

2003: 1 complaint 2003 2004: 37 complaints 2005: 92 complaints 2005 2006: 253 complaints 2007: 3 complaints 2008: 339 complaints 2008 339 2009: 140 complaints 2010: 55 complaints 2011: 54 complaints 2011 2012: 45 complaints 2013: 13 complaints 2013 2014: 9 complaints 2015: 6 complaints 2015
2003: 1 complaint 2003 2004: 37 complaints 2004 2005: 92 complaints 2005 2006: 253 complaints 2006 2007: 3 complaints 2007 2008: 339 complaints 2008 339 2009: 140 complaints 2009 2010: 55 complaints 2010 2011: 54 complaints 2011 2012: 45 complaints 2012 2013: 13 complaints 2013 2014: 9 complaints 2014 2015: 6 complaints 2015
2003: 1 complaint 2003 2004: 37 complaints 2004 2005: 92 complaints 2005 2006: 253 complaints 2006 2007: 3 complaints 2007 2008: 339 complaints 2008 339 2009: 140 complaints 2009 2010: 55 complaints 2010 2011: 54 complaints 2011 2012: 45 complaints 2012 2013: 13 complaints 2013 2014: 9 complaints 2014 2015: 6 complaints 2015

2008: 339 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
20020
20031
200437
200592
2006253
20073
2008339
2009140
201055
201154
201245
201313
20149
20156

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

39% · 133 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Toyota Scion xB. While driving 25 MPH, the contact was rear ended by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, back, and right knee.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-21

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Scion xB. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V340000 (Air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-22

Visibility

13% · 45 reports

Most commonly citing windshield and power window devices and controls.

CRASHFIRE

Service brakes

12% · 40 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Scion has a TSB on parking brake cables that freeze in cold weather. When the cables freeze, it will cause the rear brake calibers to lock against the rotors. You would have to drive about 10 minutes to warm the rotors to unlock the brakes.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-01-01

Also filed under Electronic stability control (esc)

I am writing to report significant safety concerns regarding my 2008 Scion [include model, e.g., tC or xB].

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-07-24

Also filed under Engine

Steering

11% · 37 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I turned on my car and was slowly backing out of the driveway when the steering wheel icon lit up. The steering suddenly became very difficult to turn and I was barely able to park the car on the street.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-17

Engine

10% · 35 reports
CRASH

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2008Complaint volume 339 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2008-10-06Structure08V451000 Southeast Toyota is recalling 67 my 2008-2009 Scion xB vehicles equipped with the sports grill option and also several radiator grills sold as parts. These vehicles fail to comply with the…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sports grill installation and install additional clips to ensure the radiator grill garnish is properly secured. The recall began on October 6, 2008. Owners may contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2009-09-18Equipment09V223000 Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from September 1, 2005 to May 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels…

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2009. Owners may contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2010-05-27Equipment10V036000 Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire selection and rims."

    Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010. Owners may contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2010-05-27Equipment10V035000 Gulf States Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These…

    Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2012-11-05Visibility12V491000 Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe…

    Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2016-11-18Air bags16V340000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2017-02-01Air bags17V006000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2018-11-16Service brakes, hydraulic18E091000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xB and Scion tC vehicles upon which an involved optional TRD Brake Kit could have been installed.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2019-11-20Air bags19V741000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F,...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2008 Scion xB — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 133 reports on file for this year.
  • Visibility: 45 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 40 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 08V451000 · Structure
  • Recall 09V223000 · Equipment
  • Recall 10V036000 · Equipment
  • Recall 10V035000 · Equipment
  • Recall 12V491000 · Visibility
  • Recall 16V340000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V006000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18E091000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 19V741000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2008 Scion xB reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Scion xB is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Scion xB?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 39% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2008 Scion xB have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.