The 2008 draws 11.23 complaints per run and the 2004 1.63, a 6.9-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 71.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 320 complaints, typically at 6.7 years.
Scion xB years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 | 4 | yes | |
| 2014 | 7 | 5 | yes | |
| 2013 | 13 | 7 | yes | |
| 2012 | 43 | 18 | yes | |
| 2011 | 52 | 13 | yes | |
| 2010 | 49 | 12 | yes | |
| 2009 | 126 | 16 | yes | |
| 2008 | 292 | 26 | yes | |
| 2006 | 208 | 26 | yes | |
| 2005 | 70 | 39 | yes | |
| 2004 | 31 | 19 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2008 xB asks a median $3,699, against $3,595 for a 2009, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.
Among the 6 Scion xB years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2008, 2006, 2009; the three worth hunting are 2004, 2005, 2012.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 9.8% | covered | |
| 1 year | 19.4% | covered | |
| 2 years | 28.8% | covered | |
| 3 years | 34.7% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 40.9% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 52.4% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 61% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 69.6% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 84.7% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 93.1% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 95.4% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 96.8% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 98% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 99.2% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 99.7% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 28.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 71.2% 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 9% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Scion xB, the early trouble is Visibility and Service Brakes — reported at around 1.7 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 6.7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6.7 yrs | 44 | 2 | |
| Visibility | 1.7 yrs | 1 | 2 | |
| Engine | 7.2 yrs | 5 | 6 | |
| Service Brakes | 3.9 yrs | 23 | 1 | |
| Structure | 6.6 yrs | 10 | 3 | |
| Electrical System | 5.9 yrs | 1 | 12 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4.1 yrs | 21 | — | |
| Steering | 6.1 yrs | 5 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the xB's vehicle class. Per production run, the Kia Soul draws 11.34, the Subaru Impreza 1.61 and the Honda Fit 3.24, against 5.07 for the xB.
| Same class as the xB | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul | 39 | 2010–2026 | |
| Subaru Impreza | 183 | 1993–2026 | |
| Honda Fit | 94 | 2007–2020 | |
| Honda HR-V | 37 | 2016–2026 | |
| Buick Envista | 5 | 2024–2026 | |
| Kia Niro | 29 | 2017–2026 |
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
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Scion xB reliable?
By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 5.07 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
Which xB years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2008, 2006, 2009. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2004, 2005, 2012. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do xB problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 6.7 years, followed by Visibility.
Will the warranty cover xB problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 28.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 9% of the complaints here.
Is the xB more reliable than the Kia Soul?
Yes: 5.07 complaints per production run for the xB against 11.34 for the Kia Soul.
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