The 2008 draws 4.54 complaints per run and the 2012 1, a 4.5-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 75.8% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Service Brakes, with 25 complaints, typically at 4.7 years.
Scion xD years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | 3 | yes | |
| 2012 | 5 | 5 | yes | |
| 2011 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2010 | 7 | 5 | yes | |
| 2009 | 17 | 9 | yes | |
| 2008 | 59 | 13 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2008 xD asks a median $3,700, against $3,988 for a 2009, the next model year: about 7% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 4 Scion xD years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2008, 2009, 2010; the three worth hunting are 2012, 2010, 2009.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 7.4% | covered | |
| 1 year | 13.7% | covered | |
| 2 years | 24.2% | covered | |
| 3 years | 34.7% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 40% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 49.5% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 64.2% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 73.7% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 81.1% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 86.3% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 89.5% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 93.7% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 96.8% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 98.9% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 24.2% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 75.8% 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 8% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Scion xD, the early trouble is Hydraulic — reported at around 2.3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Service Brakes at 4.7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 4.7 yrs | 4 | — | |
| Electrical System | 6.5 yrs | 1 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4.5 yrs | 5 | — | |
| Suspension | 9.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Air Bags | 5.5 yrs | 6 | 1 | |
| Hydraulic | 2.3 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Engine | 6.6 yrs | — | 2 | |
| Seats | 6.1 yrs | 1 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the xD's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Civic draws 2.82 and the Ford Mustang 3.87, against 2.43 for the xD. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the xD | 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
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- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scion xD reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.43 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 2 class rivals we compared.
Which xD years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2008, 2009, 2010. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2012, 2010, 2009. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do xD problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Service Brakes, typically at 4.7 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover xD problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 24.2% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 8% of the complaints here.
Is the xD more reliable than the Honda Civic?
Yes: 2.43 complaints per production run for the xD against 2.82 for the Honda Civic.
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