Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Scion xB, and it carries 11 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 138 | 55% |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 7% |
| Structure | 14 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 2% |
| Air bags | 4 | 2% |
| Seats | 3 | 1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
changed from outside lane to inside lane, when I tried to turn right to stay in the middle lane the steering wheel locked sending me into the left hand turn lane and then into a car that was in the next lane, hitting the
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Was changing lanes from the outside lane to middle lane, when I tried to turn the steering wheel to the right it locked and the car continued straight, crossing the left hand turn lane and it collided with another vehicl
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2006 Scion XB. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, another vehicle crashed into the rear, pushing it with the impact into an intersection due to the other vehicle still accelerati
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
No accidents yet related to this issue, several close calls.
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
When braking, the accelerator had somehow stuck and moved me ahead instead of stopping and caused an accident; running into concrete posts in the parking lot, which by USAA standards, totaled my car; Actually it didn't,
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SCION XB. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR HATCH, THE HANDLE FRACTURED FROM THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFA
NHTSA complaint: Structure
DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK HALF WAY UNABLE TO EXIT CAR. DOOR LOCKS WILL CLICK OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN PARKED, USING KEY REMOTE TO LOCK CAR AND WHILE WALKING AWAY I HEAR CAR LOCKS CLICK. I WALK BAC
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE WIRE WAS HOT, WHICH CREATED A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE LIGHT SW
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2006 Scion xB. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN ROSTRA PRECISION CONTROLS' SPEED CONTROLS MAY HAVE A FAULTY MODULE. THESE CONTROLS WERE INSTALLED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DEALERS OR AT THEIR VEHICLE PROCESSING CENTER ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL "ON/OFF" SWITCH IS PRESSED ONCE TO TURN THE UNIT OFF, THE THROTTLE DOES
Risk: A CRASH COULD BE CAUSE IN THE EVENT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO IDLE ON THE FIRST DEPRESSION OF THE "ON/OFF" SWITCH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE THE SPEED CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE S
Risk: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA
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 EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPA
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
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 RECAL
| Reliability raw | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 95 | excellent |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility is the most reported area with 138 of them (55%). There are 11 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 69/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.