2013 Scion Xb problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (4) · Electrical System (3) · Service Brakes (2)
🧭 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 (3)
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 2018-01-09 · campaign 18V024000 · 628,018 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vib
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 the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota:
Service bulletins (163)
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 163 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-24 · Engine · 60,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 toyota scion xb. the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, requiring approximately 5 quarts of oil to be added every 1,000 miles. the low oil pressure warning light intermittently illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed, and the conta…”
2026-06-03 · Engine · 41,500 mi“the contact owns a 2013 toyota scion xb. the contact stated while her daughter was driving or idling, the driver noticed an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance w…”
2025-02-06 · Engine · 120,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 scion xb. the contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, the contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. the vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with engine oil consumptio…”
2023-12-11 · Engine“this is a known issue with the 2013 scion xb and several other models that use the same 2.4l 2az-fe engine. a number of scion owners have reported excessive oil consumption, where the vehicle burns off or consumes engine oil faster than it should. this causes low oil levels which may lead to serious engine damage if not addressed in time. the probl…”
2023-05-28 · Electrical System“car is using a quarter of oil additional every 3000 miles…”
2022-08-08 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“on april 22, 2022 the car burst into flames while parked in a supermarket parking lot at 1000 us route 1, edison, new jersey. fortunately i was not in it at the time but the car was a total loss. there were no warnings ahead of time.…”
2021-05-22 · Electrical System“hi, air bag light started intermittently flashing in january. toyota could not diagnose until it was on all the time. charged me $89.95. air bag light stays on all the time 04-25-21. take it to toyota and diagnose intermittent open in driver side front door harness in circuit to left front door air bag sensor. $272.88. want an additional $739.78 t…”
2021-05-08 · Electrical System · 175,000 mi“drivers door air bag harness has an open code. part # 82152-12l23. same problem thst toyota has with recalled venza. toyota wants over $1,000 to fix. air bag light on all of the time.…”
2021-02-24 · Service Brakes“this is not a complaint!! i just wanted to inform you that the recall notice for this scion and vin doesn't apply to this model. can this recall (18e091) notice be taken off please?…”
2019-01-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 876 mi · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“clutch, 2013, wagon, xb, tanaka, humid, smoking, melting, smell, fluids. when i drove this lemon off the lot it had 17 miles. 2013 scion, xb, clutch, wagon, 4 door, silver, limited edition?????? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.