Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Scion xB, and it carries 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 38 | 70% |
| Engine | 3 | 6% |
| Structure | 2 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
| Air bags | 1 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 2% |
| Air bags | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I purchased my 2011Scion XB 09/08/2010 and in the last 12 months, my scion XB has been burning oil extremely fast. I have to add oil to the vehicle approximately every 4-5 weeks. I’ve taken it to the the Toyota dealershi
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The steering becomes hard to control after being on the highway for around 40-60 mins. It is hard to keep the vehicle on track because the steering is "sticky" and it takes more force to keep the vehicle in its lane, he
NHTSA complaint: Steering
DEFECTIVE REAR HATCH LATCH. FREQUENTLY SHOWS TO BE UNLATCHED DESPITE BEING LATCHED. CAN'T TELL IF A DOOR IS UNLATCHED SINCE IT IS ONE INDICATOR FOR ALL DOORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN HOT OR I
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SCION XB. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000(AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. FIORE TOYOTA (1000 S LOGAN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
"OIL COMP RECALL" WENT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TALKED TO THE ASSTI SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD I COULD NOT DO THE RECALL THERE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE PLACE THAT FIRST TESTED IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR AND I
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY SOUNDED LIKE PARTS OF THE ENGINE WERE FALLING OUT OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE FREEWAY. THE CAR DIED. MY SON AND I PUSHED THE SMOKING VEHICLE 200 FEET TO A APARTMENT COMPLEX ENTR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 SCION XB. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN TSB NO. SB0024-11R2. HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/ARTICLES/2007-2015-SCION-TC-XB-PISTON-ISSUE-1420682965001/. A FRIEND WHO SELLS CARS SENT ME THAT LINK SA
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016 Scion tC vehicles. Over time, the brake hoses in thes
Risk: Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
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
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louis
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Owners may
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX4
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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-asse
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vib
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The
| Reliability raw | 68 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 95 | excellent |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 38 of them (70%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 68/100 (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 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2011 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.