2005 Scion Xb: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Scion Xb: 1 recall, 92 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.

Recalls
1 vehicle recall from the manufacturer, plus 6 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
6 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E023000 · 2006 · 292,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E060000 · 2006 · 87,745 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and May possibly result in a vehicle crash
The fix: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E064000 · 2006 · 4,029 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and May possibly result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Tradesonic will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2006.
Speed control / throttle Equipment recall #07E005000 · 2007 · 2,934 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain rostra cruise controls, p/nos. 00012-x0486-01, 00015-x0486-01, 00012-x0486-21, 00016-79910, 00016-79910-01, and 250-1755, installed as original equipment on my 2006-2007 gulf states Toyota and southeast Toyota Scion vehicles and also sold as aftermarket equipment. The cruise control May not return to idle when the on/off switch is pressed for the first time.
Why it matters: Failure to release the throttle when the cruise control is turned off could result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: 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.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E012000 · 2009 · 16,270 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E025000 · 2009 · 42,540 vehicles
What's wrong: Dope, Inc. is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dope, Inc. will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (24): the most common themes are door / lock issues (17).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (16): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Airbags (15): the most common themes are fails to deploy (4), warning light on (4).
- Electrical (11): the most common themes are electrical failure (4), door / lock issues (3), warning light on (2).
The 2005 Scion Xb has 92 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 13 Xb model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 81). Complaints peaked in 2010 (16 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 59,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (37 complaints, 0 recalls), 2006 (253 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 32 | 29 | Regular |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 31 | 28 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Scion Xb.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 Scion Xb have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall for the 2005 Scion Xb, plus 6 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Scion Xb problems?
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (24), visibility (wipers, glass) (16), airbags (15).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Scion Xb get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Scion Xb repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.