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Scion XBModel year report

2006 Scion XB Problems

Complaints
253filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
28,500miles, 194 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
28 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Scion XB (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield glass that cracks without an apparent impact, usually found after the car has been parked or washed. A second cluster of complaints concerns the throttle not returning to idle or unexpected acceleration, often linked in the complaints to an aftermarket cruise control unit. Reports of a broken or loose rear hatch garnish and doors that will not unlock trail behind these.

  1. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Windshield cracks without impact

    • 141 complaints (56%)
    • median 20,900 mi at 2.5 yrs old (103 state mileage)
    • filed 2006–2018

    Complaints describe cracks that appear while the vehicle sits parked, often overnight or after washing, with no chip or debris strike noticed. Many are L- or V-shaped and start at the top or bottom edge near the rear view mirror or the driver's side pillar, then lengthen over time. Some owners had the glass replaced once or several times and saw a new crack form within days or months. Dealers commonly attributed the damage to a small chip or pebble, which owners say they could not find; a few owners report Toyota covered replacements, sometimes describing the cause as a stress fracture. Mostly reported under about 35,000 miles, frequently with the vehicle parked and in some cases after defroster use in cold weather.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Inspect the glass closely along the top and bottom edges and around the mirror for any existing crack or repair, and check that the cowl and wiper area sit flush. Ask whether the windshield has been replaced and keep an eye on it after washing or cold starts.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving in ohio on vacation we noticed the beginning of a line crack in the windshield. It started in the middle of the windshield at the point where the glass met the frame, exactly over the rear mirror. As we drove, it traveled downward and curved toward the driver's side. We checked and found no apparent chip from any road debri, nor had we heard anything.”

    NHTSA complaint #10214825, filed 2008-01, 16,000 miles

    “Today, 6/13/08, I was washing my car....nothing unusual....after I was finished with the outside and started on the inside, I noticed a crack in the windshield....I wasn't even driving so nothing hit the windshield...after doing some research, I have discovered that this is an ongoing issue with this particular make and model....”

    NHTSA complaint #10230944, filed 2008-06, 26,000 miles
  2. Vehicle speed control

    Throttle stays open or revs unexpectedly

    • 30 complaints (12%)
    • median 48,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (25 state mileage)
    • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2025

    Owners describe the car speeding up or continuing to rev when they lift off the accelerator or press the brake, in a few cases at highway speed and in others while parking. Some complaints tie the behavior to an aftermarket cruise control unit installed by a dealer, and one owner reports the module was replaced and later disconnected under the hood. Others had the dealer find no stored notices and the problem did not recur after restarting the engine. Reported from roughly 13,000 to 98,000 miles, with several cases during low-speed parking maneuvers.

    Recall 07V048000Recall 07V030000

    What to check: Ask whether an aftermarket or dealer-installed cruise control was fitted and whether it was inspected or replaced. On a test drive, confirm the throttle returns to idle promptly when you lift off and that the pedal moves freely.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was in motion going about 35 miles per hour. I accelerated rapidly up to 40 MPH and when I eased off the gas, the car continued to rev/accelerate. I tried pushing the brake but the car resisted. I changed gears into neutral (I have an automatic) and though it revved really loudly, when I put it back into drive, it was responsive again to the gas and brake.”

    NHTSA complaint #10957320, filed 2017-02, 98,000 miles

    “Accelerated (took off) while driving at highway speed (5 incidences)...originally I thought it was a problem with my aftermarket cruise control. I called dealership and reported that they should not recommend aftermarket cruise at the time...they claimed no other problems. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10339408, filed 2010-06, 15,000 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Rear hatch garnish and hinges break

    • 19 complaints (8%)
    • median 71,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • filed 2009–2019

    Complaints describe the rear hatch handle or garnish coming loose or breaking off, in one case coming away in the owner's hand, and in another the hatch separating from the body with worn hinges. Owners describe the part as plastic and costly to repair, and note the hatch is the only way into the cargo area. Toyota issued a warranty enhancement program covering the back door garnish on these vehicles. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 120,000 miles, with some owners noting repeated use of the hatch and hot climates.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Open and close the rear hatch several times and check the handle and garnish for looseness, cracks or missing fasteners, and confirm the hinges hold the hatch square to the body.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The handle to my back trunk door is made of some sort of plastic and living in the south has possibly caused it to start melting. It has slowly melted, dripping tar like material onto my rear bumper of my Scion XB. Every time I open my trunk, the black tar material will end up on my hands and I am unsure of how safe this product is to my health.”

    NHTSA complaint #10549256, filed 2013-10, 120,000 miles

    “The drivers side seatbelt where it attaches to the base between the seats is loose. The tailgate hatch assembly broke off. This is the only way to open the trunk and it is a cheap piece of plastic attached to the hatchback with 2 screws. As I was trying to open the trunk, the whole assembly came off in my hand. I have seen this in several other scions around town.”

    NHTSA complaint #10471603, filed 2012-08, 90,222 miles

Buying note. Give the windshield a careful look and ask about its replacement history, since glass cracking is the most frequent report. Also test the throttle response, rear hatch and door locks on a test drive, and ask whether any cruise control unit was installed or removed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 253 consumer complaints for the 2006 Scion XB. 194 of the complaints include a mileage, and 70% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 28,500 miles. Of all complaints, 18 involved a crash, 10 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 49 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Equipment (6), Transmission and drivetrain (6), Engine cooling (5), Engine (3), Seat belts (3), Seats (3), Suspension (3), Electronic stability control (2), Exterior lighting (2), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Out of no where; no trees, no trucks in front of me or any other vehicles, on a clear day, my windshield made a loud pop noise and it cracked from the top passenger side edge to the center of the windshield. It slowly creeped across to the mid-line of visibility on the driver side over the next 24 hrs. -- I was surprised to learn this is a common issue with this year and model!”

NHTSA complaint #10690754, filed 2015-02, 35,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Was leaving the house, got in car, started engine, put my foot on the brake then put the gear shift into reverse and proceeded to pull out of garage when all of a sudden for no reason whatsoever the car just took off on its own too fast, while my foot was still on the brake, the car accelerated too quickly and I nearly crashed into the neighbor's garage door.”

NHTSA complaint #10627930, filed 2014-08, 97,135 miles

Body and structure: “2006 toyota Scion XB rear hatch release. It broke without any faulty use. The toyota replacement is not substantial enough to repair the problem. The broken part interferes with the plate lights, the electric hatch release and allows exhaust fumes to enter vehicle through normally covered holes. I just want to list my complaint along with the other several thousand having the same problem. Thank you.”

NHTSA complaint #10481052, filed 2012-10, 58,000 miles

Electrical system: “My 2008 Scion XB lost power steering as I was driving it. Fortunately, I was able to pull the vehicle over without any creating an accident. After having the vehicle repaired, I was informed that the electronic steering control unit failed without any notice. This is a very serious safety issue that needs attention before someone gets killed!”

NHTSA complaint #10597637, filed 2014-06, 147,602 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

70% of the 194 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,000 and 58,000 miles.

19%0–1028%10–2524%25–5014%50–759%75–1004%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (194 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 28,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

’0771’10’13’16’19’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Scion XB version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
xB FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed automatic263128$2,400
xB FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual263028$2,400

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Scion XB → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 49 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 49 bulletins →

Other model years of the Scion XB

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2015623,4282—24—Not enough data
2014959,5002—24—Not enough data
20131441,5002—24—Not enough data
20124590,0003—240 · FewerStable
20115463,2485—2415 · FewerRising
20105548,0197—2450 · TypicalFalling
200914075,00010—2490 · MoreFalling
200833951,0008—24100 · MoreRising
200625328,5005—28Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20059259,0001—29Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20043765,4550—29Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All Scion XB model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Scion XB?

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield glass that cracks without an apparent impact, usually found after the car has been parked or washed. The issues reported most often: Windshield cracks without impact; Throttle stays open or revs unexpectedly; Rear hatch garnish and hinges break.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Scion XB have?

NHTSA recorded 253 consumer complaints for the 2006 Scion XB as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Scion XB is reported most often?

Visibility is named most often, in 148 complaints (59% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 27.

Has the 2006 Scion XB been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Scion XB get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Scion XB (xB, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 26 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Scion XB reported?

Among the 194 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 28,500 miles and the middle half falls between 13,000 and 58,000 miles; 70% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.