2012 Scion Xb problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (26) · Structure:body (6) · Engine (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Scion Xb model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-10-17 · campaign 19V741000 · 928,220 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-01-09 · campaign 19V005000 · 1,299,448 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2018-09-20 · campaign 18E091000 · 544 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016 Scion tC vehicles. Over time, the brake hoses in these kits may fatigue and fail.
Risk: Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xB and Scion tC vehicles upon which an involved optional TRD Brake Kit could have been installed. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, it will be replaced with a standard equipment brake kit, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0U.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-09 · campaign 17V006000 · 577,875 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless inclu
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), G
Service bulletins (145)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure 2022-12-14 · Z3G_Dealer_Lette · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dl: toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied blizzard pearl or super white paint colors. these reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling o
Structure 2022-12-14 · Z2G_Dealer_Lette · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dl: toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied blizzard pearl or super white paint colors. these reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling o
Structure 2022-12-14 · ZKG_Dealer_Lette · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dl: toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied blizzard pearl or super white paint colors. these reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling o
Air Bags 2022-07-28 · Takata CSP Cover · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
csp: takata csp coverage job aid - published 7.28.2022
Air Bags 2022-07-28 · 22TE04 - Takata · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
csp: on july 30, 2018, a settlement of claims for economic loss related to takata airbag inflators was approved for full implementation. the settlement includes toyota?s agreement to provide a customer support program (?csp?) for 2002-2019 model year (my) vehicles originally equipped with certain ta
Structure 2022-05-18 · Support Program · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dl: toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original factory-applied blizzard pearl or super white paint colors. these reports indicate that vehicles with these specific paint colors, applied during the vehicle manufacturing process, may experience paint peeling o
Showing the 6 most recent of 145 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-21 · Structure:body:hood“driver was traveling at 75 mph when the hood suddenly released. both latches failed and the hood flew up against the windshield with enough force to crease the hood and dent the roof. inside the vehicle, the done light and the rear view mirror were knocked loose. incident occurred at night with no other traffic on the road and driver was able to pu…”
2023-11-15 · Engine“i have to add oil every 500 to 800 miles no visible smoke from engine or exhaust when cold or hot. ???? help…”
2023-08-14 · Unknown Or Other“white paint is peeling exposing many of the car panels which are starting to rust (structural damage) …”
2022-05-05 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/Lubrication: Oil Cooler · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 scion xb. the contact stated that the vehicle was exhibiting excessive engine oil consumption. the contact stated that the oil pressure warning light would illuminate approximately 1,000 miles prior to the next scheduled oil change. the contact stated that the oil pressure warning light recently illuminated less than a month…”
2020-08-02 · Engine · 110,131 mi“noticed the oil pressure light came on when i turned a corner. immediately took it to dealer, where i have all scheduled maintenance done (except once). car was found to have no oil in it before scheduled maintenance. this happened 6 months previously and was thought to be a pvc plug issue. was told it was due to a known issue with excessive o…”
2020-02-16 · Wheels · 90,000 mi“tires defected ## vin passed ## toyota scion xb 2012 ##…”
2019-05-02 · Structure:body · 160,000 mi · 💥 crash“recall id287614 nhtsa campaign #18e091000 my vehicle was involved in an accident on jan 10th, due to failure of brakes. my car ran a red light and hit another car. my car has been totaled in this accident. i have since contacted toyota about my accident and they have refused to help compensate for my loss. my car was towed to the insurance company …”
2019-05-02 · Structure:body · 164,978 mi · 💥 crash“recall id 287614-my vehicle was involved in an accident on 1/10/2019 for failure to stop due to brakes. my car ran a red light and hit another vehicle in the intersection. both cars were totaled and removed from the scene by a tow truck. i received a notification in the mail in april 2019 3 month after my accident regarding the recall id #287614, i…”
2019-05-02 · Structure:body · 164,984 mi · 💥 crash“recall 287614- my call was involved in an accident on 1/10/2019. my car ran a red light due to failure of brakes and struck another vehicle. both cars were totaled. i have received a notification in the mail in 4/2019 3 months after my accident i have contacted toyota and since they are unable to locate my vehicle to inspect it, they refused to hel…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.