The 2006 draws 1.97 complaints per run and the 2004 1, a 2.0-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 72% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 31 complaints, typically at 8.2 years.
Scion xA years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 57 | 29 | yes | |
| 2005 | 36 | 24 | yes | |
| 2004 | 12 | 12 | yes |
Among the 3 Scion xA years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2005, 2004; the three worth hunting are 2004, 2005, 2006.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 16% | covered | |
| 1 year | 23% | covered | |
| 2 years | 28% | covered | |
| 3 years | 42% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 50% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 52% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 60% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 63% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 65% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 69% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 77% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 85% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 92% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 98% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 99% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 28% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 72% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 17% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Scion xA, the early trouble is Engine And Engine Cooling and Service Brakes — reported at around 3.3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 8.2 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 8.2 yrs | 13 | — | |
| Electrical System | 5.8 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5.5 yrs | 6 | — | |
| Fuel System | 4.5 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3.3 yrs | — | 2 | |
| Gasoline | 4.5 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 2 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Engine | 11 yrs | — | 1 |
What else in this class
6 models share the xA's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Civic draws 2.82 and the Ford Mustang 3.87, against 1.64 for the xA. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the xA | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 413 | 1981–2026 | |
| Ford Mustang | 315 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan GT-R | 9 | 2009–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 204 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Supra | 35 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan Sentra | 158 | 1982–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scion xA reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.64 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 2 class rivals we compared.
Which xA years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2006, 2005, 2004. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2004, 2005, 2006. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do xA problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 8.2 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover xA problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 28% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 17% of the complaints here.
Is the xA more reliable than the Honda Civic?
Yes: 1.64 complaints per production run for the xA against 2.82 for the Honda Civic.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.