Scion XD Best and Worst Years (2006–2014)
Scion XD model years 2008 and 2009 rank worst, with complaint indexes of 100 and 86 and 67 and 23 complaints. Years 2010 and 2012 carry a Caution label, while no year earns a Best rating out of the 117 total complaints across 8 model years.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2008Avoid 2009Lowest-risk years:Caution 2010Caution 2012
- Model years
- 8
- 2006–2014
- NHTSA complaints
- 117
- Recall campaigns
- 7
- Crashes reported
- 15
- Fires reported
- 6
- Top problem area
- Brakes
XD Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Scion XD problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | No verdict | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Engine | — | — |
| 2008 | Avoid | 100 | 67 | 8 | 0 | 5 | Brakes | 28.5 | — |
| 2009 | Avoid | 86 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 6 | Engine | 28.5 | — |
| 2010 | Caution | 57 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Engine | 29 | — |
| 2011 | No verdict | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 29 | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 71 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Airbags | 29 | — |
| 2013 | No verdict | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Steering | 29 | — |
| 2014 | No verdict | 43 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Engine | 29 | — |
XD years to avoid: what went wrong
2008 Scion XD Index 100 · 67 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2008 XD tops the list with 67 complaints and a complaint index of 100, the highest of any year. Brakes account for 49 percent of its complaints, with a median failure mileage near 44,614 miles; owners describe pedals that failed to stop the vehicle and ABS that did not engage. Suspension and engine issues follow, plus 8 electrical complaints. NHTSA logged 8 crashes and 2 injuries tied to this year, and Toyota issued 5 recalls covering seat rails, power window switches, and tire labeling.
2009 Scion XD Index 86 · 23 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2009 XD shows 23 complaints and a complaint index of 86, the second worst in the lineup. Engine problems make up 35 percent of complaints with a median failure mileage of about 44,786 miles, often described as sudden unintended acceleration. Electrical system complaints follow at 30 percent, including a report of smoke and melted window switches. NHTSA recorded 3 crashes, 4 injuries, and 1 fire for this year, alongside 6 recall campaigns covering window switches, seat rails, and wiper motors.
Most common Scion XD problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Brakes37 (32%)
- Engine29 (25%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (19%)
- Electrical System19 (16%)
- Structure & Body14 (12%)
- Airbags11 (9%)
- Fuel System9 (8%)
- Other6 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (5%)
- Seat Belts4 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What year Scion XD should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2008 and 2009 Scion XD are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes of 100 and 86, the two highest of any XD model year.
- Is the 2008 Scion XD reliable?
- The 2008 XD has the highest complaint index (100) and most complaints (67) of any XD year, with brakes making up 49 percent of those complaints and a median failure mileage near 44,614 miles.
- Does the Scion XD have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns across all Scion XD model years, with the 2008 model year covered by 5 of them and the 2009 model year by 6.
- Which Scion XD year is best?
- No XD model year is rated Best in NHTSA complaint data; 2010 and 2012 are rated Caution, and 2008 and 2009 are rated Avoid, based on complaint counts and recall activity.