Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Scion xB, and it carries 4 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 | 26 | 58% |
| Engine | 4 | 9% |
| Structure | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 4% |
| Structure | 2 | 4% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Driver was traveling at 75 mph when the hood suddenly released. Both latches failed and the hood flew up against the windshield with enough force to crease the hood and dent the roof. Inside the vehicle, the done light a
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I have to add oil every 500 to 800 miles no visible smoke from engine or exhaust when cold or hot. ???? HELP
NHTSA complaint: Engine
White paint is peeling exposing many of the car panels which are starting to rust (structural damage)
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2012 Scion XB. The contact stated that the vehicle was exhibiting excessive engine oil consumption. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light would illuminate approximately 1,000 miles pri
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I TURNED A CORNER. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO DEALER, WHERE I HAVE ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE (EXCEPT ONCE). CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE NO OIL IN IT BEFORE SCHEDULED MAINTENANC
NHTSA complaint: Engine
RECALL ID287614 NHTSA CAMPAIGN #18E091000 MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JAN 10TH, DUE TO FAILURE OF BRAKES. MY CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED IN THIS ACCIDENT. I HAVE SINCE C
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
RECALL ID 287614-MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 1/10/2019 FOR FAILURE TO STOP DUE TO BRAKES. MY CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION. BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED AND REMOVED FROM THE SCEN
NHTSA complaint: Structure
RECALL ID 287614-MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 1/10/2019 FOR FAILURE TO STOP DUE TO BRAKES. MY CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION. BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED AND REMOVED FROM THE SCEN
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2012 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 Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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
| Reliability raw | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | 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 45 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 26 of them (58%). There are 4 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 2012 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.