JTLKE50E3810149252008 TOYOTA Scion xBNORMAL
2008 TOYOTA Scion xB was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 11 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
Executive Summary
2008 TOYOTA Scion xB
2008 TOYOTA Scion xB was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 11 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
11 owner complaints filed — top areas: Engine/Powertrain (36%), Body/Structure (27%), Other (18%).
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- TOYOTA
- Model
- Scion xB
- Year
- 2008
- Trim / Series
- NORMAL
- Body Style
- Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
- Vehicle Type
- MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
- Drive Type
- 4x2
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.4L 158 hp
- Doors
- 5
- Manufacturer
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
- Assembly
- KANEGASAKI, IWATE, JAPAN
- GVWR
- Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Assembly Plant Quality
Plant: KANEGASAKI, IWATE
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ No high-risk recall components found
Driver Assistance Features
ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database
Deferred Failure Risk
Vehicle-specific risks from this model-year's complaint record, known defects, and service milestones
Owners of the 2008 TOYOTA Scion xB report engine/powertrain issues more than most other systems. Complaints concentrated in one area often signal a systemic weakness worth a targeted pre-purchase inspection.
Owners of the 2008 TOYOTA Scion xB report body/structure issues more than most other systems. Complaints concentrated in one area often signal a systemic weakness worth a targeted pre-purchase inspection.
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
CLEARComplaint Intelligence
11 complaints analyzed across 5 system categories
Engine leads owner complaints (36%), most reported when the vehicle was 10–12 yrs old. Also common: Unknown Or Other (36%), Structure (27%).
Based on 11 complaints with a reported incident date. Too few owners cited mileage (1) to report a reliable failure-mileage range.
45% of complaints filed in Jan & Feb — may indicate temperature-sensitive or weather-related failures.
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME11 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
VEHICLE USES EXTENSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL WHEN TRAVELING SHORT DISTANCES WETHER ON A HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS, THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THE ENGINE CAN USE A LOT OF OIL AND MAY BE FATAL TO OTHERS OF OIL IS NOT CHECKED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE HAS NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE.
RIGHT FRONT ROTOR DISC SPLIT OPEN OVER TIME UNTIL IT AFFECTED ABOUT ⅔ OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE , AND IMPAIRED BRAKE ABILITY. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE ROTOR AND A SERVICE RECEIPT.
MY 2008 SCION XB USES TOO MUCH OIL. I GOT COMPLETE OIL CHANGE APRIL 10,2020. WITHIN 30 DAYS HAD TO ADD QUART OF SYNTHETIC OIL ALREADY. THEN LOOKED UP RECALL. RECALL W MY VIN# SAID MAKE SERVICE APPT. AT LOCAL TOYOTA . ELK GROVE TOYOTA MADE 2 APPTS. WHEN CHECKED IN THEY SAID THE ASSOCIATE WASNT AT WORK AND RECALL EXPIRED IN 2017. THEN ROBERTA CALLED ME AND LOOKED INTO IT, SAID IT WAS EXTENDED TIL 9/92025. MADE ANOTHER APPT. SAME OUTCOME WHEN I CHECKED IN.WAS GARANTEED THE WORK WOULD BE DONE AND IT WASNT.
DIESEL OIL RUNS OUT QUICKLY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF DIESEL OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND OR WHILE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTIFICATION FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDTOWN TOYOTA (2700 N CICERO AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60639) WHERE HE RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE ONCE HE DROVE ANOTHER 1200 MILES. AT THE STATED MILEAGE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE ON THAT DAY DUE TO THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RETURNED TWO DAYS LATER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE LIMIT AND WAS THEREFORE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
THE CAR IS SUCKING UP THE OIL I GET A OIL CHANGE AND THE NEXT DAY I HAVE TO PUT A QUART OF OIL EVERYDAY IS CHECKING THE OIL I HAVE TO PUT AT LEAST 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN IT IT DOES NOT HOLD THE OIL AND YOU DON'T SEE WHERE THE OIL IS DRIPPING OUT AT.I LOVE MY CAR BUT I AM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS OIL.
THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEY TESTED MY CAR INCORRECTLY. MY CAR EVERY OILS CHANGE I HAVE TO PUT THREE LITERS OF OIL IN IT.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY HOOD FLEW UP AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND MY HOOD IS SEVERELY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THIS. IT CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY HOOD FLEW UP AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND MY HOOD IS SEVERELY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THIS. IT CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY HOOD FLEW UP AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND MY HOOD IS SEVERELY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THIS. IT CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS.
"TAKATA RECALL" SCION SENT ME A LETTER STATING HAVE NO FRONT SEAT PASSENGER RIDE IN MY CAR. NO FURTHER WORD REGARDING UPGRADE OR FIX. UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT NO FRONT SEAT PASSENGER INDEFINITELY. NO REMEDY RECOMMENDED.
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
The blue line shows 11 total NHTSA complaints filed over 3 years, with the worst year being 2020 (9 complaints).
The amber reliability line averaged 99/100 across the vehicle's life — relatively stable, with the lowest point of 96/100 in 2020.
Notably, despite 11 complaints on file, no recall has been issued — either the defect pattern has not met NHTSA's threshold for a formal campaign, or a recall may be forthcoming.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $33,114 (~$552/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 2008 TOYOTA Scion xB — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
Manufacturer NHTSA Penalty History
Federal fines issued for recall delays and safety violations
TOYOTA has been fined $1217M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2014: Criminal settlement — concealed unintended acceleration defects for years before recall.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | JTLKE50E381014925 |
| Model Year | 2008 |
| Make | TOYOTA |
| Model | Scion xB |
| Trim | NORMAL |
| Series | AZE151L |
| Vehicle Type | MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV) |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 5 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.4 |
| Horsepower | 158 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION |
| Assembly City | KANEGASAKI |
| Assembly Country | JAPAN |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | JTL |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 3 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | 8 |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | 1 |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 014925 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 0 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 11 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 11/1/2026, 1:12:10 PM.