2012 Scion Xb: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Scion Xb: 3 recalls, 45 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V006000 · 2017 · 577,875 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V005000 · 2019 · 1,299,448 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #19V741000 · 2019 · 928,220 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Brakes (hydraulic) Equipment recall #18E091000 · 2018 · 544 vehicles
What's wrong: Over time, the brake hoses in these kits May fatigue and fail.
Why it matters: Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xb and Scion tc vehicles upon which an involved optional trd brake kit could have been installed. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the trd brake kits, it will be replaced with a standard equipment brake kit, free of charge. The recall began…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (27): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Engine (8): the most common themes are fire / smoke (2), excess oil use (2).
- Body & structure (7): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Brakes (5): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2012 Scion Xb has 45 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 13 Xb model years for complaints (well below the 81 average). Complaints peaked in 2017 (24 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 90,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (54 complaints, 5 recalls), 2013 (14 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S4) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 27 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 27 | 24 | 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 2012 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.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2012 Scion Xb have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Scion Xb, plus 1 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 2012 Scion Xb problems?
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (27), engine (8), body & structure (7).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Scion Xb get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic (S4)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 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.