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KLUNK

2004 Toyota Scion xb

The Verdict

91 Smooth Ride

The 2004 Toyota Scion xb has 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (19 complaints) and electrical (12 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 91/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Scion xb, consider the 2012 model year which has 91% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2012 has 91% fewer complaints

View the 2012 Toyota Scion xb dashboard →

91

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20041931212
200550623130
200821150
20101272961
201210110
201330001
201430111

By Category

Body
19
Electrical
12
Brakes
3
Transmission
2
Engine
1

By Severity

1
13
2
16
4
8

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 4

The vehicle belongs to a sex trafficker involving minors

19mo ago
Electrical 2

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AM WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUMPY COUNTY ROAD. NO ERROR CODE. UNABLE TO RESET. VEHICLE MILEAGE RIGHT AT 150K.

89mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SCION XB. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LARRY MILLER TOYOTA, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 505-545-8699) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

106mo ago
Electrical 2

WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY AND OUR INTENTION IS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT WORK AND CAUSE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. CANNOT MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE, BUT RATHER, HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW, REACH OUTSIDE THROUGH THE WINDOW AND INSERT KEY IN THE OUTSIDE DOOR LOCK, AND THEN CAUSE UNLOCK FROM THE KEY OUTSIDE. PUT ASIDE THE FACT THAT IF WE DROPPED THE KEY OUTSIDE WHILE REACHING THROUGH THE WINDOW FROM THE INSIDE, WE WOULD BE WROUGHT WITH MORE PROBLEM - THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT WE CANNOT ESCAPE THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DUE TO THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM.

110mo ago
Electrical 1

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, WILL NOT GO OFF. HAVE TO TAKE IT TO REPAIR SHOP SO IT CAN BE FIXED FOR A TIME. SO IT WILL PASS INSPECTION WITH LIGHT OFF. SOON AFTER THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS. CAR WAS IN MOTION, STARTING CAR, DRIVING CAR, FORWARD AND BACKING UP. LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. MECHINIAC CANT FIND WHAT IS WRONG. DRIVING CAR ON STREET OR HIGHWAY, UP HILL OR ON FLAT STREET.

116mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SCION XB. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VSC, ABS, AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT *CN

118mo ago
Body 1

WHILE OPENING REAR HATCH THE HANDLE PULLED OFF. NO UNDUE PRESSURE WAS USED, IT LITERALLY JUST PULLED OFF INTO MY HAND AS I ATTEMPTED TO SIMPLY OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR & MODEL SCION , THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SCION/TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PART WITHOUT A SUBSTANTIAL CHARGE.

133mo ago
Electrical 2

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE INCREASINGLY BECOME A PROBLEM. FIRST, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STOPPED WORKING AND NOW HAS TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THEN THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR, WHICH HAS TO BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. FINALLY, THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS ON THREE OCCASIONS, LOCKED ME IN, FORCING ME TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE MY KEY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN W/ ANY OF THE OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. *TR

139mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH HANDLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

142mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SCION XB. WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH, THE GARNISH LATCHING ATTACHMENT FRACTURED AND CREATED SHARP PLASTIC EDGES. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE REAR HATCH DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,850.

148mo ago
Body 4

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 SCION XB WHEN THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK. HE TRIED THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT STOP OR EVEN SLOW THE CAR DOWN. HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE ACCELERATION WAS TURNING THE IGNITION OFF. THIS MORNING WHEN THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STARTED THE CAR, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN RACING, AND HE QUICKLY SHUT IF OFF. *TR

160mo ago
Body 1

LIFTGATE HANDLE / LIGHT FIXTURE HOUSING BROKE AND SEPARATED FROM THE LIFTGATE, HANGING BY THE WIRE; I HAD TO TAPE IT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE PART DANGLING AND KNOCKING AGAINST THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE / OBSCURING THE LICENSE PLATE. *TR

163mo ago
Body 1

THE REAR DOOR LATCH HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND AFTER TRYING TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. I REPLACED THE PART AT THE DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF ALMOST $300. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN NOV. 2012. IT IS A HIGH STRESS PART THAT IS HELD ON BY 2 VERY SMALL CHEAP PLASTIC BRACKETS. *TR

167mo ago
Body 2

REAR HATCH HANDLE ON 2004 SCION XB CONTINUES TO BREAK OFF. HAD IT REPLACED JUNE 5 2009 AND IT BROKE OFF AGAIN MARCH 2012. THE ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

173mo ago
Brakes 1

IT HAD RAINED EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT BY THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE RAIN HAD BEEN OVER FOR A FEW HOURS. I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, AND I REACHED A HILL IN THE ROAD, AND I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE MY MOMENTUM. I THEN EASED OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DIDN'T EASE UP WITH ME. INSTEAD, IT KEPT GOING DOWN. I TRIED THE BRAKES. THEY WERE LOCKED UP. AFTER SEEING ALL THE HORROR STORIES OF TOYOTA'S FLOOR MATS, I IMMEDIATELY RIPPED MY FLOOR MAT OUT FROM UNDER MY FEET AND THREW IT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP THE HILL. I TRIED THE BRAKES AGAIN. NOTHING. THEN I REACHED DOWN, AND TRIED TO PULL THE GAS PEDAL UP. I PULLED AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT THE PEDAL STAYED STUCK. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FEET TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS NOT ACCIDENTALLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, BUT I WAS NOT. BY THIS POINT IN TIME, MY CAR HAD INCREASED ITS SPEED FROM THE 35 MPH TO 65 MPH. AS I CRESTED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND RAN THROUGH A STOP LIGHT, I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES WITH ALL MY STRENGTH. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO ABOUT 40 MPH FROM THE 65 MPH IT HAD BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. I, THEN, SLIPPED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND CONTINUED PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, WHICH WERE STILL FIGHTING ME. THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AS IF I HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY PRESSED DOWN ON THE GAS. BY THE TIME I WAS 20 FT AWAY FROM ANOTHER INTERSECTION AND A RED LIGHT IN MY DIRECTION AND A GREEN LIGHT FOR THE CROSS-FLOWING TRAFFIC, I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR DOWN TO 10 MPH. I HAD NO TIME. I COULD EITHER FORCE IT INTO PARK OR GO SWIFTLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION. SO I PUT IT IN PARK, BUT EVEN IN PARK THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AS IF I STILL HAD MY FOOT PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE ONLY THING THAT GOT THE ENGINE TO STOP REVVING WAS TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT EVEN THEN THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO GO FOR ANOTHER 10 TO 15 SECONDS. *TR

176mo ago
Body 2

WHEELS: PREMATURE TIRE WEAR (PRIOR TO TIRE MILEAGE WARRANTY) ALONG WITH UNEXPLAINABLE WARPING OF THE RIMS. TIRE BLOW OUT AND/OR HANDLING/STEERING ISSUES CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY HAZARDS, THEREBY PUTTING AN OWNER INTO A PHYSICAL DAMAGE SITUATION, AS WELL AS BY STANDERS. WIPERS: REAR WIPER FLUID DOES NOT SPRAY, STRAIGHT STREAM DOWN THE CENTER OF REAR WINDOW; WIPER BLADE DOESN'T CONTACT 'STRAIGHT' REAR WINDOW THEREBY DECREASING VISIBILITY WHICH IN TURNS INITIATES AND INTENSIFIES SAFETY/ACCIDENT HAZARDS, NOT TO MENTION DEFEATS THE NEED/USEFULNESS OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR. FRONT WINDSHIELD: THE 'STRAIGHT' UP AND DOWN FORM CAUSES IT TO BE A CATCH ALL RATHER THAN AN AERODYNAMIC DEFLECTOR, ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO BECOME A PHYSICAL HAZARD, WHEN AN OBJECT HITS IT WITH PENETRATING FORCE. THE SECONDARY ISSUE IS NUMEROUS WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS, WHICH MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES DO NOT COVER THEREBY CAUSING RECURRING, AND TREMENDOUS, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON AN OWNER. REAR TAILGATE HATCH: BREAKS AND HANGS BY WIRING HARNESS ALONE, MAKING THE TAILGATE/REAR HATCH VIRTUALLY INACCESSIBLE AND UNUSABLE. THIS THEN BECOMES A NUISANCE FACTOR AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN AN OWNER WOULD NEED TO ACCESS AND REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE. SINCE LICENSE PLATE ILLUMINATION IS REQUIRED BY LAW, A BROKEN HATCH HANDLE CLEARLY PUTS AN OWNER IN VIOLATION OF THIS LAW, THEREBY CAUSING LEGAL IMPLICATIONS AND EXCESS COST FACTORS WHEN HE OR SHE RECEIVES A TICKET FOR A NON-OPERATIONS TAG LIGHT. *TR

176mo ago
Electrical 1

I BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA SCION XB USED FROM LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN MASSACHUSETTS THE SALES MEN TALK ME INTO GETTING THE EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FOR $1400.00 SO I DID. A YEAR LATER I GO TO GET MY ANNUAL INSPECTION STICKER THE CAR WOULDN'T PASS I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER THEY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED A JUNCTION BLOCK, INSTRUMENT PANEL PART # 82732-52040, BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SO MUCH FOR BUMPER TO BUMPER,$92.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND $566.00 TO REPAIR ,OK REPAIRS GET DONE NOW IS TIME TO GET MY INSPECTION STICKER AGAIN AND GUESS WHAT SAME PROBLEM CALL THE DEALER THEY WANT ANOTHER $92.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND IF ITS THE SAME PART AGAIN THEY WANT ANOTHER $566.00 TO REPAIR I FEEL THIS IS UNJUSTIFIED.THE REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN MY STATE DEEM THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE AND WILL NOT ISSUE A STICKER BECAUSE THEIR COMPUTER CAN NOT COMUNICATE OR READ THE INFORMATION FROM MY VEHICLES ECM. I PERSONALY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. MEAN WHILE I'M MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE ! P.S I DO HAVE THE OLD PART.THANKS. *TR

189mo ago
Body 1

I PURCHASED A 2004 SCION XB FOR MY DAUGHTER IN JUNE 2009. SHE CAME HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT (JULY 17, 2010) AND WHEN SHE STOPPED HER SCION IN THE DRIVEWAY, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE (JUST BEFORE PUTTING IT IN PARK), THE CAR ACCELERATED. SHE INSTINCTLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK IT, THE CAR WAS STILL IDLED UP WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. *TR

196mo ago
Engine 2

WHILE DRIVING POSTED SPEED ON INTERSTATE 71 SOUTHBOUND FROM CLEVELAND TOWARDS COLUMBUS OHIO, MY CAR DOWNSHIFTED BY ITSELF AND KEPT SLOWING DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD STALLED. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR. IT WOULD CRANK NORMALLY BUT WOULD NOT START. I CHECKED ALL THE FLUIDS, THEY WERE AT OPERATING LEVELS. I PERFORMED A VISUAL CHECK UNDER THE CAR AND HOOD FOR FLUID LEAKS. THERE WERE NONE. I CALLED A NEARBY (40 MILES) TOYOTA DEALER WHO DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK TO PICK US UP AND BRING THE CAR TO THEIR REPAIR CENTER IN DELAWARE OHIO. THIS OCCURRED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND AS OF THIS WRITING ALL THEY AT BYERS TOYOTA, SUSPECT IS A POSSIBLE ECM FAILURE. THEY ARE STILL TROUBLESHOOTING. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE CAR START AND RUN SUCCESSFULLY. *TR

196mo ago
Electrical 4

HEAD ON COLLISION AT 35 MPG - NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

198mo ago

37 total

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