AI Damage2010 Scion XB: common problems
Owners of the 2010 Scion XB filed 55 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 55
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 49% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 7% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 4% of all complaints
- Air bags: 27 complaints (49% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 5 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 55 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 scion xb. The contact stated that while the driver was driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of the vehicle in front. The front driver side air bag deployed.
While pulling into my driveway my accelerator suddenly surged forward into a brick plantar box, I was able to stop the vehicle with the brakes and emergency hand brake, although the gas pedal has always been sensitive the surge of acceleration has not been this excessive until now.
The contact stated that the vehicle was parked on an incline with the emergency brake engaged yet, the vehicle rolled away independently, crashing into a tree. The front end of the vehicle and the undercarriage were damaged. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the brake failure was not recalled.
The injuries were predominantly seatbelt bruises and a fractured kneecap. The multiple impacts during rolling may have been too low to initiate an airbag deployment or it could indicate a problem. What should be done to determine whether the response was appropriate? The car will likely be totaled by state farm.
Pulled over and started to smoke from the hood, exited vehicle and smoke turned to flames. Fire deescalated by Fire Dept. and vehicle is a total loss. All maintenance was UpToDate and just passed vehicle inspection for driving test a week prior.
I was driving on the road and all of a sudden the steering wheel was moving back and forth and the right front tire was bouncing uncontrollably while was while driving.
The springs in the rear have rusted to the point where I question their resistance to breaking and thus the safety of the car when turning a corner. The springs came from the factory with a coating that has quickly worn off an exposed the bare, untreated metal to excessive rust and corrosion.
The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle would shake and vibrate abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the motor mounts were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,078 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XB has 75 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 55, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Scion XB?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, service brakes, structure. Total complaints: 55. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: unintended acceleration (5%), brake failure (4%), oil leak or consumption (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 Scion XB?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2010 Scion XB from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2010 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.