2004 Scion Xa Problems and Recalls (13 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Scion Xa is Engine (23% of 13 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 13 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Scion Xa?

3 of 13 filings named Engine (23% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Airbags (1 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Cruise / speed control and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 2004 Scion Xa

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 3 complaints · 23.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 2
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 1
All Scion Xa years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 3 of 13 owner complaints (23.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 3 complaints, 23.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 · 23.1% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 1 complaints, 7.7% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 1 · 7.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 7.7% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 7.7% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 1 complaints, 7.7% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 · 7.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 1 complaints, 7.7% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 1 · 7.7% Tires (TIRES): 1 complaints, 7.7% of reports Tires (TIRES) 1 · 7.7% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 1 complaints, 7.7% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 · 7.7% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 7 complaints, 53.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 7 · 53.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 3 23.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 7.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 7.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 7.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 7.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 1 7.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 7.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 7 53.9% 1 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2005; the first recall shown was reported in Jan 2007. 2005-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 2005 Nov 2018 Recall campaign 07E005000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E005000 Recall campaign 18V776000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V776000
  • Campaign 18V776000 was reported 1,196 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2005-Q2 Owner reports 5
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 07E005000
Recall campaign 1 18V776000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Cruise / speed control and Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 07E005000

    Cruise / speed control

    Report date
    Component:
    Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
    Consequence:
    FAILURE TO RELEASE THE THROTTLE WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOTIFY THEIR OWNERS AND REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL FREE OF CHARGE. ROSTRA WILL NOTIFY PURCHASERS OF THE ATERMARKET CRUISE CONTROLS AND REPLACE THE UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 13, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT ROSTRA AT 910-291-2538.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 18V776000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners unintentionally deploy, it can increase the risk of a crash. If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners are deactivated, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the SRS ECU, and if necessary, replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0W.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 13 complaints · page 1 of 1
2016-12-12Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10934593
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY MOTHER IN LAW HIT A TREE GOING 50 MPH HITTING THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HER CAR INTO TREE, AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SHE SUFFERED MAJOR HEAD TRAUMA THAT LEAD TO HER DEATH. THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE HER PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR WAS BENT IN TO DRIVERS SIDE AND SHE SUFFERED BROKEN LIMBS ON RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY.
2016-08-29Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10899239
CrashFireInjuryDeath
LICENSE PLATE IS STOLEN OVER THE NIGHT, WHILE PARKED AT 1200 LICK AV. SAN JOSE.
2015-09-03Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10761407
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I JUST GOT HOME FROM WORK I WAS HOME 30 MINUTES. MY SON TOLD ME MY CAR WAS CUTTING OFF AN ON. GRABBED MY KEYS WENT OUTSIDE AN MY WAS TURNING OFF AN ON ,STARTED MY CAR WITH THE KEYS IT STARTED UP, TURNED IT OFF IT CAME BACK ON AN IT WAS IDLING HARD THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM ENGINE POPPED MY HOOD SMOKE FLOODING EVERYTHING RAN FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER COULDN'T FIND IT RAN FOR THE HOSE WET IT. IT'S THE WIRES FROM THE BATTERY DOWN TO UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. LEFT THE HOOD UP. CAME OUT 3 HOURS LATER THE FAN IS ON IN THE CAR! HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF COMPLETELY! !!!
2015-07-24Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10743404
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVING HOME AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED. I WAS GOING APPROX. 40-45 MPH. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED A OLDER CADILLAC, IN MY SCION XA, THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF!!
2013-09-25Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 10545288
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DURING A ROUTINE DRIVE HOME, I DROVE OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BREAK. I VERIFIED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT STUCK ON THE PEDAL. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL PEGGING. I ALSO TRIED TO DEPRESS AND RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THAT DID NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM CRASHING, I HAD TO KEEP MY FEET FIRMLY ON THE BREAK. THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS OCCURRING FOR ABOUT A QUARTER MILE. I ATTEMPTED ONE FINAL CYCLE OF THE GAS PEDAL (DEPRESS AND RELEASE) AND THAT FINALLY STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. *JS
2010-03-18Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10320615
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2004 SCION XA. DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT INTERFERES WITH GAS PEDAL. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES TO DATE. ONGOING PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS. *TR
2006-02-22Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 10150891
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TOYOTA MOTOR CORP MANUFACTURING OF THE 2004 SOLARA IS ABSURD. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR OR WARRANTY ANYTHING ON THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEMS, REPLACED MULTIPLE SETS OF TIRES, THE INTERIOR IS ALREADY FALLING APART AS THE REAR TAILLIGHT IS OUT AND THE FRONT HEADLIGHT AS WELL. TOYOTA REFUSES TO WARRANTY ANY PARTS SAYS ITS STATED IN THE NEW WARRANTY TERMS WHICH I WAS NEVER SHOWED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VHL BRAND NEW? THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS ALL RUSTED OUT FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILINGS AS WELL ON A 2004 CAR? WORST CAR EVER AND WORST MANUFACTURER EVER DEALT WITH. GOING TO GO BACK TO GM CORP THEY STAND BEHIND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. *NM
2005-09-16Tires (TIRES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10136809
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONSUMER STATED TWO OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE SPLIT. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES WERE THE ONES AFFECTED. HE WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND THE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. AFTER TAKING IT OFF THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED A TWO INCH SPLIT BY THE SIDEWALL. THIS WAS ABOUT AN INCH IN THE TREAD DOWN TWO OR THREE INCHES ON THE SIDEWALL. THE REAR TIRE HAD THE SAME SPLIT. WHEN HE NOTICED IT HAD NOT GONE FLAT. TOYOTA MAINTAINED THAT THE CONSUMER RAN OVER SOMETHING. HE HAD TO ORDER AND REPLACE TWO NEW TIRES BY HIMSELF, HE REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE SECOND TIRE OCCURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THESE ARE DUNLOP TIRES. *AK
2005-06-02Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10123982
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ON MAY 28, 2005, WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER (TOYOTA OF DALLAS) IMMEDIATELY. BEFORE WE WENT MUCH DISTANCE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RE-START. WE CALLED THE DEALER, WHO WE ASKED TO SEND A WRECKER. THIS WAS DONE, AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FOLLOWING APPEARS ON THE DEALER'S WORK ORDER: 10835 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS 801013 .2 EG4017 .8 1.0 AS PER TSB EGO47-04 REFLASHED ECU AND CLEARED CODES T1-8A - T2-99" THE CAR SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO ME, MY WIFE, OR ANYONE ELSE.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2004 Scion Xa?

Owners named Engine most often — 3 of 13 reports (23%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Scion Xa?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Cruise / speed control and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2004 Scion Xa?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources