2008 Scion XB Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 37about this part
- Share
- 11%of 339 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the steering of the 2008 Scion XB, 11% of the 339 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I turned on my car and was slowly backing out of the driveway when the steering wheel icon lit up. The steering suddenly became very difficult to turn and I was barely able to park the car on the street. I'm unable to use the car for anything else as I can barely steer at all.”
NHTSA complaint #11046890, filed 2017-11, 139,353 miles“My wife and I bought a Scion/toyota expecting better reliability. While my wife was in a parking lot the steering light came on and lost power assist. She was unable to drive the car in this condition. It is going to be a fairly costly repair. It is unfortunate toyota has not done something to help its customers. Due to the fact it is a known problem with a high failure rate.”
NHTSA complaint #10567098, filed 2014-03, 101,000 miles“I drove the vehicle on saturday evening and experienced no problems. Returned to the vehicle on sunday to attend church and the power steering would not function. I checked the fuses and they were not blown. The vehicle is almost impossible to drive without the power steering unit working. I live forty (40) miles from a dealer repair shop. It will be very expensive to have a wrecker service pick up the vehicle and haul to the dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #10702672, filed 2015-03, 113,000 miles“After pumping gas in my 2008 Scion XB, I proceeded to turn the engine of my vehicle on and tried to pull the steering wheel to the right. The steering wheel had become very rigid and extremely difficult maneuver, in that moment the electric power steering light came on. Miles on the vehicle when failure occurred is 89,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10408057, filed 2011-06, 89,000 miles“Today (april 23, 2015) I stopped at a store, everything was fine. After returning to my car I started it and proceeded to back out of my parking space and realized I had no power steering and noticed the steering wheel light was on. I took it to sears and they diagnosed that it was the ecu. I was told by sears that I had no choice but to bring it to a dealer to be repaired. I dropped it off about an hour ago and am waiting to get hit with the repair costs.”
NHTSA complaint #10712516, filed 2015-04, 46,562 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10041184Jun 20, 2011Toyota: 2008-2011 xb. There may be abnormal noise from the idler pulley assembly.
- 10033745May 5, 2010Scion: steering. Power assist system. In some vehicles may exhibit an intermittent condition where multiple malfunction indicator lights (mil) remain illuminated after start up…
- 10030907Aug 27, 2009Scion: steering intermediate shaft knocking noise. Some vehicles may exhibit a clunk, pop, or knocking noise when turning the steering wheel to the left or right. A new…
- 10033636Jun 12, 2009Scion: some tc and xd and xb vehicles may exhibit a condition with multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting from park t drive, and/or other accessories becoming…
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2008 Scion XB
132 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
46 complaintsBrakes
39 complaintsEngine
35 complaintsElectrical system
34 complaintsElectronic stability control
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsWheels
9 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Scion XB
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology