2005 Scion XB: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
92 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
59,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 92 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 9 |
| Visibility | 6 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
Air Bags: 15; Structure:Body: 15; Electrical System: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Visibility:Windshield: 9; Visibility: 6; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 4; Seat Belts: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 25 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2005: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 11; 2009: 6; 2010: 16; 2011: 8; 2012: 4; 2013: 7; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10122582 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)
DT: THE BRAKE SYSTEM (NOT ABS) FAILED. SHE WAS NOT GETTING A WARNING SIGN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE GOING BAD. DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE BRAKES WENT OUT AT 12,000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132709 · 2005-08-13 (August 13, 2005)
GLASS ROOF/SUNROOF ASSEMBLY CONSTANTLY CREAKS AND POPS. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND TSB PERFORMED, NOISES WENT AWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AND NOISE RETURNED. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED IT NEEDED "LUBRICATION" AND IT SHOULD BE FINE, NOISES HAVE RETURNED AGAIN. ALSO, THE HATCHBACK ALWAYS RATTLES, AS RECOMMENDED BY A SCION MESSAGE BOARD, SLIGHTLY LARGER BUMP STOPS WERE PURCHASED, WHICH LESSENED THE RATTLING, BUT IS STILL PRESENT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, SOUNDS LIKE IF HATCH WAS NOT FULLY CLOSED, BUT IT IS. ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137788 · 2005-09-26 (September 26, 2005)
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT (MAY APPLY TO REAR BELTS AS WELL) RETRACTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE BELTS APPEAR TO HAVE A LIMIT SET ON THEM THAT IS TOO SHORT FOR THE VEHICLE CONFIGURATION. A SIMPLE ACT SUCH AS LEANING FORWARD SLIGHTLY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO OPEN THE GLOVE BOX CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO LIMIT UP AND BEGIN IT'S LOCK DOWN. IT THEN BEGINS TO RATCHET BACKWARDS AND WILL NOT GIVE IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION AT ALL. IF THE PASSENGER LEANS BACK IT TIGHTENS FURTHER, AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DISENGAGE FROM THE LATCH MECHANISM. …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138357 · 2005-10-03 (October 3, 2005)
THE DRIVER DOOR DETENT ON THE 2005 SCION XB VIN JTLK324154008954 DOES NOT HOLD ON A MODEST INCLINE, CREATING A SERIOUS INJURY HAZARD. REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER (RIVERHEAD TOYOTA). RESPONSE: "VEHICLE NOT DESIGNED TO. NO PROBLEM FOUND". THE DEALER IS WRONG. THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A COMBINATION OF 2 PROBLEMS -- AN INADEQUATE DETENT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR COMBINED WITH APPLICATION OF EXCESSIVE WHITE GREASE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DESIGN A STRONGER DETENT AND ALL SERVICE PERSONNEL NEED TO BE WARNED NOT TO APPLY ANY GREAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,097 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139314 · 2005-10-11 (October 11, 2005)
*****ATTENTION***** *****SCION XB SEAT BELTS VERY DANGEROUS FOR LITTLE KIDS********* REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS LOCKING TO THE POINT OF EXTREME PAIN AND SUFFOCATION. THE BELT MECHANISM ONCE LOCKED IT CONTINUES TO RACHET BACKWARD TO ITS LOCKING STATE SO THAT IF ONE LEANS BACK ON THE SEAT YOU BECOME GLUED TO IT. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT GIVE IN FORWARD WHICH MAKES DIFFICULT TO REACH THE UNLATCH BUTTON. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN!. MY SON (7 YRS OLD) FELL ASLEEP WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ONLY TO WAKE UP WITH HIS SEAT BELT L…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140282 · 2005-10-19 (October 19, 2005)
THE FIRST NIGHT THAT I DROVE IT, I WAS IN THE HILLY COUNTRY AND NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WITH LOW BEAM ON THE LIGHT DOES NOT SHINE ANY HIGHER THAN ABOUT 3 FEET OFF THE GROUND. GOING DOWN THE HILL THE LIGHTS ONLY SHINE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, NOT UP THE OTHER SIDE LIKE A NORMAL VEHICLE. WHEN I REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, MY WIFE SCREAMED AT ME. THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WAS A LARGE BUCK. THE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE HIM. WITH ANOTHER CAR COMING I COULDN'T USE MY BRIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147059 · 2006-01-06 (January 6, 2006)
ON, 4 JAN 2006, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA SCION XB, 2005. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP BEHIND A VEHICLE THAT HAS STOPPED AT A YIELD SIGN. SHE COULD NOT STOP BECAUSE THE THROTTLE HAD STUCK. SHE RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, DAMAGING HER FRONT END. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148718 · 2006-01-25 (January 25, 2006)
THERE IS A DRIVING PROBLEM WITH A NEW CAR WHEN STARTING IT WITH A COLD ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BUCKS AND JERKS WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED UNTIL THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT PRODUCE TROUBLE CODES. THEREFORE, THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS OPERATING NORMALLY ALTHOUGH THE JERKING AND BUCKING IS QUITE DISRUPTIVE AND NOT AT ALL NORMAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148718 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V035000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
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. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
NHTSA campaign record ↗