Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 17% | 30,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 33% | 64,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 29% | 39,000 miles |
| 2012 | 27 | 60% | 64,000 miles |
| 2011 | 41 | 76% | 104,000 miles |
| 2010 | 27 | 49% | 50,000 miles |
| 2009 | 74 | 53% | 88,000 miles |
| 2008 | 132 | 39% | 104,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 33% | — |
| 2006 | 7 | 3% | 118,000 miles |
| 2005 | 15 | 16% | 98,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 19% | 90,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Air bag light illuminated. Dealer identified problem as "found spiral cable failed. Internal parts failure, spiral cable is behind the steering wheel and controls the driver side air bag unit" quoted cost of repair: $552 on top of the $130 already spent to discover the cause .
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Scion xB. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V005000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Mike erdman Toyota (4650 fl-520, cocoa, fl 32926, [phone]) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Consumer stated all issues were resolved.
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 to replace harness. This is same problem that has been recalled on Toyota Venza and Avalon to the best of my knowledge. Harness is too short and rubs on door frame, causing open circuit. I believe this is an overall Toyota/Scion problem.
Earlier today I was involved in a car accident on my 2013 Scion xB. My car's front bumper and hood are completely damage, along with the side fenders, the radiator is also broken and out of place, even the frame is a bit bent. The brakes too a bit longer than usual to kick-in and the person in front of me made a sudden stop 'causing a rear collision on the person in front of me (whom by the way took off before I even got out of the car). Airbags did not go off (at the time of the accident I was with my 1 year old), luckily my son and I are safe but I'm things could've gone either way, I don't feel confident that my family and I will be safe driving this car and I was wondering if you could look deeper into it (wouldn't want it to happen to anyone else).
I was t-boned on March 6th, 2013 on the driver's side. I was in a Scion xB and the person who hit me was in a Chevy silverado. The impact was estimated at 45 MPH and the door was jammed shut. No air bags deployed. The curtain airbag should have which would have lessened the impact. As a result, the driver (myself) sustained a broken collar bone, broken rib, and punctured lung among various bruising and passed out for an unknown amount of time. After several calls to Scion and a visit to the Toyota dealership where it was purchased we did not hear anything from the car manufacturer until a month later. The inspectors at Toyota called to find out where the car was located and if they would be able to inspect it. Because the jaws of life were used to pry the door open, it split the door enough to where you could see where the sensor for the airbag did not deploy. …
NHTSA re all no. 16v-340 & 17v-006 2012 Toyota Scion I took the veicle to repair after that I didn't revive any notification of recall , I did file a complaint never recive any notification it looks like my car it's been sold to another agency without my notification and autorizacin I'm still making payments without knowing the situation.
I was driving 65mph on the freeway sounded like parts of the engine were falling out of the car. Immediately exited the freeway. The car died. My son and I pushed the smoking vehicle 200 feet to a apartment complex entrance. The vehicle then ignited in flames, and I called 911.
"Takata recall". 2011 xB traveling south on collier parkway. Accelerated to approximately 45 MPH. From parkway. Older Dodge van in front slams on brakes. I slam on brakes and 2011 xB exhibits instantaneous acceleration. Coming up on back of Dodge van swerve left onto raised median. Trees in median 2011 xB still accelerating going down into northbound lanes. Coming up on 2005 Chevy astro van. We both swerve and driver side rear corner of each vehicle collide. 2011 Scion xB now back on median. 2011 Scion xB still accelerating coming up on intersection of weeks blvd. And collier parkway. 2015 Hyundai santa fe enters intersection on green from weeks blvd. Heading nothbound. 2011 Scion xB still accelerating enters intersection and strikes 2015 Hyundai santa fe. Front of 2011 Scion xB hits driver side of 2015 Hyundai sante fe. 201 Scion xB Takata airbag deploys. Metal skins driver's nose. …
Related recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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…
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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…
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and…
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota 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…
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Frequently asked questions
Which Scion xB years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (132), 2009 (74), 2011 (41), 2010 (27) and 2012 (27) model years. Airbag complaints make up 39% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Scion xB airbag problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 19V-741 (inflator module, Oct 17, 2019); 19V-005 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2019); 18V-024 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Scion xB airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (5 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (2).
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.