2005 Scion Xa Problems and Recalls (39 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2005 Scion Xa is Airbags (33% of 39 owner reports). There are 3 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 39 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2005 Scion Xa?

13 of 39 filings named Airbags (33% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Glass / wipers / cameras (6 reports).

There are 3 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 2004 has 13 reports on file; this year has 39. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2005 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 3 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Glass / wipers / cameras. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there.
  4. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. 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: Airbags 13 complaints · 33.3% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 13
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 12
  • Deaths 0
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 Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 13 of 39 owner complaints (33.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 13 complaints, 33.3% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 4 crash reports 13 · 33.3% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 6 complaints, 15.4% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 6 · 15.4% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 5 complaints, 12.8% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 3 crash reports 5 · 12.8% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 4 complaints, 10.3% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 4 · 10.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 5.1% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 2 · 5.1% Engine (ENGINE): 2 complaints, 5.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 · 5.1% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 1 complaints, 2.6% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 · 2.6% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 1 complaints, 2.6% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 1 · 2.6% Steering (STEERING): 1 complaints, 2.6% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 · 2.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 18 complaints, 46.1% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 5 crash reports 18 · 46.1% 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)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 13 33.3% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 6 15.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 5 12.8% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 4 10.3% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 5.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 2 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 2.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 2.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 1 2.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 18 46.1% 5 crashes · 0 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: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 2005 Jan 2022 Recall campaign 07E005000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E005000 Recall campaign 10V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V036000 Recall campaign 18V776000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V776000
  • Campaign 07E005000 was reported 479 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V036000 was reported 1,745 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V776000 was reported 4,758 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 3
2005-Q3 Owner reports 5
2005-Q4 Owner reports 3
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 6
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2016-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 07E005000
Recall campaign 1 10V036000
Recall campaign 1 18V776000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

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 10V036000

    Safety recall 10V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. 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 39 complaints · page 1 of 2
2022-03-30Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11458912
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The air bag light has been trigger on and won't go off. Nov 1, 2018 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.
2019-08-16Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11244438
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SCION XA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE DRIVER FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HERRIN-GEAR TOYOTA (6100 INTERSTATE 55 NORTH FRONTAGE RD, JACKSON, MS 39211, ([redacted]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
2019-04-16Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11196633
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF
2018-11-02Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11144983
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I AM AN OLDER GAL WITH NO CAR...MY DAUGHTER GAVE ME HER CAR SO I COULD TAKE MY 95 YEAR OLD MOM AROUND. ONE DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN AND THE MAN SAID IT WOULD BE $700.00. I DON'T HAVE ANY EXTRA MONEY. TODAY I SAW THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL ON TELEVISION. I CALLED TOYOTA..THEY SAID MINE WAS NOT ON THE LIST. JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST....WHO IS TO SAY THIS AIRBAG ON THIS SCION IS NOT TAKATAS FAULT TOO. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.....IF THERE ARE AIRBAG PROBLEMS ON ALL THESE TOYOTA'S.......WHY WOULD NOT MINE BE INCLUDED...I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH IT LIKE THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTRA $700.00 TO FIX IT. CAN'T THERE BE SOMETHING DONE TO HELP ME OUT........THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME...... I WAS JUST DRIVING AROUND AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. YES...USE THIS EMAIL ADDRESS TO ALERT ME OF ANY RECALLS.FRON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION...THANK YOU....(I HAD TO PUT THIS HERE BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT LET ME CHECK YES. BELOW)
2018-06-20Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11102812
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, GOING SLOWLY. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ACCELERATED. IT JUMPED THE CURB, TOOK OUT A TRASH CAN, PASSED BETWEEN 2 STEEL POLES (MEANT TO PROTECT THE BUILDING), TOOK OUT A TREE, HIT THE BUILDING, FINALLY STOPPING AT ANOTHER TREE. I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I REMEMBER THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAD HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES PREVIOUSLY BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR AT THE TOW LOT, MY SON AND I COULD SEE THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT SO I GAVE IT TO THE TOW LOT FOR THE COST OF TOW FEES. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT INJURED BEYOND ACHES AND PAINS. I KEPT THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THEN I DECIDED TO CHECK PAST PERFORMANCE AND FOUND THAT THESE VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE A GOOD RECORD. WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT THIS CRAPPY CAR.
2017-09-06Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11021835
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON OR LIGHTED ALL THE TIME
2017-08-28Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11020157
CrashFireInjuryDeath
LAST FRIDAY ANOTHER CAR HIT UP AND AIR BAG NEVER UP
2016-07-26Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10888607
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SCION XA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENTIRE SUN ROOF EXPLODED INCLUDING THE GLASS FRAME. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
2016-04-07Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10854221
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A FEW YEARS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS TOLD DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T COVER TO REPAIR & THAT I MUST'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT & THAT AS LONG AS THE LIGHT IS ON THAT MY AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF IN A WRECK. WHAT A SHAME SINCE I DID PAY EXTRA FOR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WHEN VEHICLE BOUGHT. CAN'T REMEMBER IF CAR WAS MOVING WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. LOVE THIS CAR. HAS 230K + MILES BUT AFTER READING OTHER COMMENTS ON SAME ISSUE I WILL BE CONSIDERING SOMETHING OTHER THAN TOYOTA FOR NEXT VEHICLE

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2005 Scion Xa?

Owners named Airbags most often — 13 of 39 reports (33%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2005 Scion Xa?

NHTSA lists 3 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 2005 Scion Xa?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. 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