vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Scion XD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

67 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

55,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 67 complaints (28.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3653.7%
Electrical and battery issues710.4%
Transmission and shifting57.5%
Engine operation46.0%
Steering behavior46.0%
Fuel system concerns11.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Service Brakes
19
Suspension
11
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Electrical System
7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
6
Air Bags
5
Seats
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes19
Suspension11
Vehicle Speed Control9
Electrical System7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)6
Air Bags5
Seats5

Service Brakes: 19; Suspension: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 6; Air Bags: 5; Seats: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
20
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
11
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,99920
50,000 to 74,9999
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,99911
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008
2
2010
7
2011
8
2012
6
2013
7
2014
12
2015
7
2016
5
2017
5
2018
4
2020
2
2023
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20082
20107
20118
20126
20137
201412
20157
20165
20175
20184
20202
20231
20261

2008: 2; 2010: 7; 2011: 8; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 12; 2015: 7; 2016: 5; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2020: 2; 2023: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10236617 · 2008-08-01 (August 1, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 34 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND SOME BUSHES; HOWEVER, THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WAS THE MUD. THE ENGINE CONTINUED REVVING UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. DURING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING COLUMN NOR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. IN THE EVENT THAT A…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236617 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10307924 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)

WHILE RETURNING HOME ON NOV.19, 2009 THERE WAS FRESH SNOW AND COLD TEMPERATURES. APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, A GARBAGE TRUCK FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 SCION XD AND THEY LOCKED, THE ABS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THIS RESULTED IN AN INJURY ACCIDENT. AFTER THE CAR WAS IN THE BODY SHOP I CONTACTED TOYOTA SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND THE SENT A REP TO INSPECT THE CAR, HE REPORTED NO PROBLEM W/ THE BRAKES. TODAY I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE 2008 SCION XD WHICH STATES THE BRAKES MAY FAIL I…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307924 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10311553 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)

I OWN A 2008 SCION XD (AKA COROLLA HATCHBACK) THAT HAS STEERING PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2008. THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL POWERED STEERING. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT TENDS TO WANDER AROUND IN THE LANE AND REQUIRES CONSTANT MONITORING TO AVOID DRIFTING INTO OTHER LANES. I AM EXPECTING TO BE PULLED OVER FOR DRUNK DRIVING SOMEDAY. MY WIFE DROVE IT ONE TIME AND NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE IT. THE STEERING PROBLEM HAS BEEN EVIDENT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. NOTE====> VEHICLE IS SCI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10311553 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10336560 · 2010-06-16 (June 16, 2010)

APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AGO, I HAD EXITED FROM THE FREEWAY AND CAME TO AN INTERSECTION. AS I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO DRIVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, THE CAR STALLED. I TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND PUT THE CAR IN "PARK" INORDER TO ATTEMPT TO RE-START THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO CRANK EVEN WHEN I TOOK MY HAND OFF OF THE IGNITION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. INVOICE INDICATED THAT BATTERY WAS CHANGED AND THAT TECH PERFORMED ECM CALIBRATION AND FUEL INJECTOR SERVICE. ONE MONTH LATER, I W…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336560 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10550630 · 2013-11-02 (November 2, 2013)

I WAS DRIVING TO A JOB INTERVIEW. INITIALLY THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THIS SOUND WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE ACCELERATION PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHILE STILL ON THE FREEWAY, THE GRINDING SOUND PROGRESSED AND THERE WAS INCREASED RESISTANCE (WITH PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND MAKE A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE). WHILE STILL ON THE FREEWAY, AND IN 5TH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT, AND BEING IN 5TH GEAR WAS AS IF BEING IN NEUTRAL (NO ACCELERATION AT ALL, ENGINE WOULD REV WHEN PRESS…

Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10608858 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)

MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH FAILED, LOCKING UP THE VEHICLE AT A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL. UPON REPAIR, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE METAL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND CAUSED THE IRREPAIRABLE DAMANGE TO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10380180 · 2011-02-04 (February 4, 2011)

THE BRAKES , NOT SURE IF THEY ARE THE REGULAR BRAKES OR E-BRAKES , ON MY '08 SCION XD, GET STUCK , LOCKED, FROZEN WHEN TEMP'S DIP BELOW ABOUT 23 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. I LIVE IN CHICAGO SO THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN WINTER. BACK OF CAR , BRAKES GET STUCK AND WILL PULL THE REST OF CAR. MY CAR AFTER , SUCCESSFULLY FREEING THEM ONE COLD MORNING, GOING TO A SHOP TO GET THEM INSPECTED RESTUCK IN A BUSY INTERSECTION A MILE FROM MY HOME , MAKING MY CAR STALL OUT IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION MAKING FOR VERY NERVOUS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10380180 at NHTSA ↗