YearToAvoid

2012 Scion XD Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

71/100

#3 most-complained of 8 XD years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Scion XD has 5 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 71 out of 100 — #3 highest of 8 XD model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is airbags (2 complaints, 40% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes, 2 fires, and 10 injuries.

Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 2
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
27 city / 32.5 hwy

Top 2012 Scion XD problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags2 (40%)
  2. Electrical System2 (40%)
  3. Fuel System2 (40%)
2012 Scion XD complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2012Jan 2014Jun 2015Feb 2016Mar 2020
6 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2012 to Mar 2020; peak Jan 2014 (2).

2012 Scion XD recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Scion XD fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
32.5 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other XD years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020062008200920102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution5712429
2011No verdict293129
2012Caution715029
2013No verdict142029
2014No verdict434029

All Scion XD years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Scion XD a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Scion XD ranks #3 of 8 among XD model years (Complaint Index 71/100, verdict: Caution). It has 5 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Scion XD?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (2 complaints), electrical system (2 complaints), and fuel system (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 28,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Scion XD have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2012 Scion XD in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Scion XD?
EPA rates the 2012 Scion XD at 29 MPG combined (27 city / 32.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.