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2012 Scion XB problems

The most common problem on the 2012 Scion XB is airbags, typically around 63,684 miles. Its complaint count is close to a typical XB model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
74/100
Owner complaints
46
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
145
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
24mpg

The worst 2012 Scion XB problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Airbags
    27
  • Engine
    9
  • Body
    8
  • Brakes
    5
  • Electrical
    3

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Airbags
    27
  • Engine
    9
  • Body
    8
  • Brakes
    5
  • Electrical
    3
  • Suspension
    2
  • Locks
    1
  • Wheels
    1

Recalls 3

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported October 17, 2019 · 928,220 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371 or Lexus customer service at 1‑800‑255‑3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.

Recall number 19V741000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2019 · 1,299,448 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.

Recall number 19V005000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2017 · 577,875 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).

Recall number 17V006000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2012 Scion XB

Defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpened September 17, 2021, still open

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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

EA21002

Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Scion XB 145

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 145 bulletins for the 2012 Scion XB

2012 Scion XB fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.4L 4‑cylFWD222724

What 2012 Scion XB owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Body, Suspension · CT

My wife and I were driving down the road and all of a sudden we heard a very loud bang and attempted to maintain control of the vehicle. The pavement was smooth free of any imperfections. I was able to pull the vehicle off the road. Upon reviewing the vehicle I noticed the passenger side rear wheel completely lodged into the wheel well. I had no indication that this was going to occur. We are fortunate this didn't happen on the highway as the outcome would have been alot different.

Filed May 21, 2026 · Body, Locks · KY

Driver was traveling at 75 mph when the hood suddenly released. Both latches failed and the hood flew up against the windshield with enough force to crease the hood and dent the roof. Inside the vehicle, the done light and the rear view mirror were knocked loose. Incident occurred at night with no other traffic on the road and Driver was able to pull over without further incident. If there had been other vehicles, the sudden lack of visibility would likely have resulted in a crash.

Filed Oct 29, 2024 · Engine · CA

Engine is burning oil.

Filed Nov 15, 2023 · Engine · NV

I have to add oil every 500 to 800 miles no visible smoke from engine or exhaust when cold or hot. ???? HELP

Filed Aug 14, 2023 · WA

White paint is peeling exposing many of the car panels which are starting to rust (structural damage)

Filed May 5, 2022 · Engine · 130,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2012 Scion XB. The contact stated that the vehicle was exhibiting excessive engine oil consumption. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light would illuminate approximately 1,000 miles prior to the next scheduled oil change. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light recently illuminated less than a month after the previous oil change; 2,500 miles prior to the next oil change. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact stated that 4 quarts of oil was consumed prior to the next scheduled oil change and suggested that there was leak. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the failure was related to Toyota Technical Service Bulletin Number: SB0024-11R2. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Aug 2, 2020 · Engine · 110,131 miles · MI

Noticed the oil pressure light came on when I turned a corner. Immediately took it to dealer, where I have all scheduled maintenance done (except once). Car was found to have no oil in it before scheduled maintenance. This happened 6 months previously and was thought to be a pvc plug issue. Was told it was due to a known issue with excessive oil consumption due to worn piston rings, ultimately the fault of the requirement of ethanol in gasoline. Solution - keep checking the oil and add as needed. Not worth repairing the piston rings.

Filed Feb 16, 2020 · Wheels · 90,000 miles · CA

Tires defected ## VIN passed ## toyota scion xb 2012 ##

Filed May 2, 2019 · Body, Brakes · 164,984 miles · CA · crash

Recall 287614- my call was involved in an accident on 1/10/2019. My car ran a red light due to failure of brakes and struck another vehicle. Both cars were totaled. I have received a notification in the mail in 4/2019 3 months after my accident I have contacted toyota and since they are unable to locate my vehicle to inspect it, they refused to help compensate for my loss. I would like toyota to take some responsibility for this, my insurance company gave me a payout that went directly towards the remaining balance of my car and I still have to pay 2,900 after. I still have not financially recovered from this accident.*dt 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'

Filed May 2, 2019 · Body, Brakes · 164,978 miles · CA · crash

Recall id 287614-my vehicle was involved in an accident on 1/10/2019 for failure to stop due to brakes. My car ran a red light and hit another vehicle in the intersection. Both cars were totaled and removed from the scene by a tow truck. I received a notification in the mail in april 2019 3 month after my accident regarding the recall id #287614, I have since contacted toyota and the refused to compensate me for my loss. They have tried to relocate my car for inspection but the insurance company who has possession of my car after the accident, no longer has it. I have not fully recovered from this accidently finically and I was looking to have toyota to help me compensate me for my loss. The money I did get from the insurance company went towards the remaining balance of my loan and I was not able to use it towards another vehicle. I would like toyota to take some responsibility for this.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2012 Scion XB

Is the 2012 Scion XB reliable?

Owners have filed 46 complaints about the 2012 Scion XB, close to a typical XB model year.

What is the 2012 Scion XB year score?

The 2012 Scion XB scores 74 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Scion XB: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Scion XB?

Airbags, with 27 complaints, typically around 63,684 miles. Next is engine (9).

How many recalls does the 2012 Scion XB have?

3 recalls, covering air bags.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Scion XB get?

Official estimates for the 2012 Scion XB range from 24 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 22 city and 27 highway.

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