MYRModel Year Report

2009 Scion xB

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2009 Scion xB
RENDERED 2026-11-01T11:36:40.053Z

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
140
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 2009

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

53% of complaints

Complaints per year

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

2009: 140 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

53% · 74 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Takata recall -my daughter hit a parked car and over corrected making the vehicle flip. No airbags deployed. My daughter had a cut on her head, huge bump on forehead, black eye, huge bump on top of her head.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-13

Vehicle driven by daughter. 45 MPH road. Two (2) vehicles in front of her. 1ST vehicle made an abrupt right turn, causing vehicle #2 to abruptly decrease (Braking) speed, which cause vehicle #3 (Scion) driver to react quickly and brake.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-09-17

Also filed under Service brakes and seat belts

Air bags did not deploy on our 2009 xB release series 6.0. One car was traveling at 45-50 miles and the xB was going at about 15 miles per hour, no air bags deployed. Emergency personnel commented on why the air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2010-02-21

Engine

17% · 24 reports
FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

This vehicle type had a oil consumption recall. My vehicle has never been repaired. The car consumes a lot of oil. I went to my local Toyota dealership to have my car repaired under the recall. They would not honor the repair..

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-02-05

Service brakes

10% · 14 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY

Vehicle speed control

6% · 9 reports
CRASHINJURYDEATH

Electrical system

6% · 9 reports
FIREINJURY

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

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

  1. 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 →

  2. ▮
    2009Complaint volume 140 complaints filed for this model year.
  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
    2015-11-25Visibility15V689000 Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4,...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. 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 →

  9. 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 →

  10. R
    2018-01-29Air bags18V024000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL,...

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

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. 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 →

  12. 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 →

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

Buy-smart checklist

2009 Scion xB — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 74 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 24 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 14 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 15V689000 · Visibility
  • Recall 16V340000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V006000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V024000 · 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 2009 Scion xB reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2009 Scion xB is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Scion xB?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 53% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2009 Scion xB have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-27 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.