U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Scion XA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

40 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

37,200 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 40 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	10	25.0%
Transmission and shifting	2	5.0%
Steering behavior	2	5.0%
Electrical and battery issues	1	2.5%

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.

Air Bags

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System

Steering

Air Bags:Frontal

Service Brakes, Air

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Tires

Air Bags: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Service Brakes, Air: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Tires: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 13 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.

2005

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2022

2005: 12; 2009: 4; 2010: 8; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10118441 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)

DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEED WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN MAKES VERY LOUD, LOW-PITCH NOISES INSIDE THE CAB THAT ARE SOMEWHAT PAINFUL TO THE EARS AND HEAD. SOMETIMES IT'S WHEN THEY ARE ALL FULLY OPEN OR AT DIFFERENT LEVELS WITH DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OPEN OFF THE FOUR. IT'S VERY HARD TO HAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN COMFORTABLY AND NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118441 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121226 · 2005-05-17 (May 17, 2005)

INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR INTRUDES ON MY LINE OF SIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, BLOCKING VIEW OF CARS AND PEDESTRIANS APPROACHING AT THAT ANGLE OF SIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121226 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10122560 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)

DT: CONSUMER STATES: HEAD REST IS TOO BIG AND THE BACK WINDSHIELD IS TOO SMALL. WHEN CHANGING LANES OR LOOKING TO BACK OUT THE LITTLE SPOT IN THE MIDDLE ONE CAN SEE THROUGH. ITS REALLY A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122560 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10130879 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)

ENKEI WHEEL RIM BENT AND TIRE AND WHEEL NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAR NOT IN ACCIDENT AND I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE VALVE BEFORE AND THE DEALER FIXED IT. I ALSO HAD A DEFECTIVE TIRE REPLACED A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. I THINK THIS WAS DEFECTIVE TOO, BUT NOW I HAVE TO PAY 465. TO FIX. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10134877 · 2005-08-31 (August 31, 2005)

ON A ROAD DOING 50 MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE. STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT AND CAUSE THE LOST OF CONTROL, CRASHING INTO THE GUIDE RAIL. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134877 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135069 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)

COMPLAINT-2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: UNSAFE OPERATION THIS VEHICLE HAS A "FLY BY WIRE" COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT IS CAUSING HAZARDOUS UNEXPECTED ENGINE STUMBLING, ENGINE HESITATION AND ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE CANNOT ALWAYS BE EASED INTO TRAFFIC AND ON ONE OCCASION WHEN MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC THE ENGINE RACED AND DOWN SHIFTED SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE PASSENGERS THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR. AN INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL(AT 70 MPH). THE ENGINE RACED,DOWN SHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD BEFOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 299 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135069 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135491 · 2005-09-06 (September 6, 2005)

ON AUGUST 20, 2005 I WAS PARKING MY SCION TC 2005 IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR TOOK OFF AS IF IT WERE POSSESSED. I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, AND AVOIDED HITTING MY HOUSE AND MY BASKETBALL POLL. SLAMMING THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR HIT A TREE IN MY BACKYARD. I SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES, INCLUDING CHEST CONTUSION, AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES IN MY LEFT HAND. MY DAUGHTER CALLED 911, THE POLICE ARRIVED AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE.…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135491 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10137655 · 2005-09-26 (September 26, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR. WENT FOR A PRETTY FAST RIDE, KICKED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND THEN IT DID A NOSE DIVE. AFTER THE CONTACT GOT VEHICLE STARTED IT STOPPED, IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE WAS 7,800 . NO CRASHES WERE REPORTED . NO POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137655 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

10V036000 · Equipment:Other:Labels

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

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." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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 SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

18V776000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

Reported: 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Toyota Scion xA vehicles. The air bag control module for the supplemental restraint system (SRS ECU) may experience an internal short, possibly causing the air bags to unintentionally deploy, or become deactivated.

Consequence: If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners unintentionally deploy, it can increase the risk of a crash. If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners are deactivated, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the SRS ECU, and if necessary, replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0W.

NHTSA campaign record ↗