Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Scion xB owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am writing to report significant safety concerns regarding my 2008 Scion [include model, e.g., tC or xB]. After purchasing the vehicle, I discovered multiple serious mechanical and structural defects that make the car unsafe to operate on public roads. 1. Suspension/Struts - The struts are severely worn and are causing premature and uneven tire wear. This creates a major risk of tire blowout or loss of control while driving. 2. Motor Mount - The engine mount is missing screws and bolts, which results in excessive engine movement. This could lead to engine damage or failure while in motion. 3. Alignment - The vehicle's alignment is completely off, causing the car to pull while driving and further worsening tire wear and handling. 4. …
My Scion experienced loss of stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes during a snow storm in winter 2012. Warning lights for ABS, brakes and vsc on the gauge cluster illuminated at that time. While driving at slow speed in the storm I realized that ABS was not working. The warning lights remained lit for about two days, then went out and did not return until December 2013. My vehicle was in california during the winter of 2013, and did not experience any loss of ABS, brakes, vsc or traction control or illuminated warning lights. In December 2013 while driving in a light snow, approx 2 inches, exiting a local highway and approaching a stop sign at 25 MPH I put pressure on the brakes to stop. My car spun around 360 degrees. I hit a snow bank and came to a stop. The entire time the vehicle stability system did not activate. …
I have a Toyota Scion xB and I was driving on a snow covered road. I had a deer jump out in front of me. The anti-lock brakes failed and my wheels locked up and I slid into the ditch. I contacted the dealership and they said a speed sensor went out. I ordered the part and was going to have it replaced for $90. When they went to install the part they found a short in the wiring and that is what caused the sensor to fail. They wanted me to pay over $1000 to have the wiring fixed. They gave me a copy of the service advisory from Toyota stating they knew they had this defect and had a redesigned part to install because of corrosion which caused the short. I refused to have the new parts installed because I don't feel I should have to pay for their design flaws.
The initial incident occurred while driving the vehicle on partially snow covered pavement. As I applied the brakes to stop at an intersection, the vehicle began to skid. The vehicle stability control and ABS systems did not work, and the brake, ABS and vsc lights came on. The warning lights remained on for approximately one day as I continued to drive. After the warning lights turned off, they remained off for approximately two weeks, then the ABS and vsc systems failed again and the lights came back on. This problem occurs fairly regularly, six to eight times per year. I was quoted a cost of around $1200 to replace the rear hub assemblies and wiring harness replaced, with no guarantee that would solve the problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Scion xB. The contact was driving approximately between 50-55 MPH on normal road conditions. When pressure was applied to the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to slow down. The vehicle crashed into the proceeding vehicle. The police was called to the scene. There were no personal injuries. The vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to the authorized dealer. The previous day before the failure occurrence the anti-lock brake system engaged without warning and the road surface was dry. The cause of the failure had not been determined at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000. Updated 06/17/10. Updated 07/12/10
I had been driving my 2008 scionxb in stop and go traffic for approximately and hour, then entered a toll road with speed of 65 MPH. I had to go through two toll plazas, slowing down for each. I was approaching the exit ramp for my destination, applied my brakes to slow down and the car continued at high speed. The road conditions were dry. I was unable to bring my vehicle under control. Fortunately there was a snow pile that had been plowed to the end of the ramp at the intersection which softend my crash.the car was towed to an auto body shop. The brake line was examined and no ruptures were in the brakeline. I am waiting for more information from the insurance adjuster.
Scion has a TSB on parking brake cables that freeze in cold weather. When the cables freeze, it will cause the rear brake calibers to lock against the rotors. You would have to drive about 10 minutes to warm the rotors to unlock the brakes. This could cause brakes to fail and May not stop at all. I drove the Scion about 1 mile when a car made a left turn in front of me and the brakes and or traction control failed to work. I've noticed that the car still has stopping problems when its cold. I was lucky it was a low speed crash that caused about 5000 in damage. Scion Toyota has not recalled these cars for brakes and only your Toyota mechanics know of the problem.
Salt and snow causes error codes c0210, rear speed sensor rh circuit to malfunction and shuts down the ABS, traction control, and air bag deployment. All safety devices are off when salt is used on roadways. Salt and snow causes error codes c0215, rear speed sensor lh circuit to malfunction and shuts down the ABS, traction control, and air bag deployment. All safety devices are off when salt is used on roadways. This is a know problem with 2008-2009 Scion xB, Toyota TSB s-sb-0040-09, July 6,2009 * connectors for these sensors are exposed to the environment, causing non deployment of safety devices leading up to, and during a crash**
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Scion xB. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the traction control monitor and the brake warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to be repaired but the details were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000. The VIN was not available.
I looked to see how fast I was going (30 MPH) and when I looked back up there was a car stopped in the road approximately 35ft ahead of me. When I applied the brakes my car never slowed down and I hit the other car.
Brake complaints in other xB years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2008 Scion xB?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the brakes of the 2008 Scion xB, 12% of the model year's 339 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › wheel speed sensor/tone ring (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Scion xB brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2008 Scion xB, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Scion xB brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.