Most common 2004 Scion xB problems
Share of the 37 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Scion xB complaints by model year
Best xB years: 2007, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2008, 2006, 2009, 2005. Compare all years →
What 2004 Scion xB owners say
Air bags
Front end collision with no air bag deployment. 2004 Scion was traveling at approximately 40 MPH and rear ended a pick up truck; damaging the Scion and pick up truck.the Scion had two feet of drivers side intrusion and the passenger side had 1-1/2 feet of intrusion. The Scion had a star to the windshield and an injured driver, which could have been avoided if airbag deployment happened. The damage to the Scion caused major front end damage exposing the engine and hitting damaging and exposing the air bag sensors. This vehicle was air bag equiped and airbags, which failed to opperate. The resulting failure caused the driver to sustain injuries to his head and his face causing an open wounds and lacerations that were sutured in a emergency room were driver was evaluated by a emergency room physician.there was nothing done to correct the failure, the driver notifed Toyota motor company. …
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, [phone]) 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.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Scion xB cracked windshield. L-shaped crack behind the rearview mirror. No crack in the morning, and a crack suddenly appears in the afternoon, and the car never left the parking. Due to research done over the internet I have found out that many Scion xB owners in various states throughout the U.S. Are having the same problem in the same spot. This seems to be a design problem.
2004 Scion xB. Car drove by, small stone hit windshield. Very tiny mark on windshield. While I was driving, a huge crack spread all the way across the windshield. I've never had a car before that with a small chip or stone mark, the whole windshield cracks. This has too be a design flaw. Maybe they need to coat the windshield for protection, or change the design.
Electrical system
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.
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.
2004 Scion xB engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 32 / 29 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 31 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Scion xB a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 xB rates better than average: 42% fewer complaints than a typical year of the xB at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Scion xB?
The air bags — 7 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (7) and electrical system (6).
How many recalls does the 2004 Scion xB have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Scion xB. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Scion xB?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2006, 2009 and 2005. See the full Scion xB years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Scion xB problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.