MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 2005 SCION XA DOWN A PRIVATE DIRT ROAD WHEN A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF HER - SHE SWERVED TO MISS THE DEER AND HIT BRAKES. AT THE TIME SHE SAID THAT THE CAR DIDN'T BRAKE BUT SEEMED TO SPEED UP. THE CAR ROLLED. *TR
2005 Scion Xa
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Xa years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
27 reports with mileage · 13 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
40 reportsIN JUNE 2009 I WAS COASTING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA ACCELERATED, DROVE OVER A PARKING BUMPER, PLOWED INTO A SMALL TREE AND DROVE INTO A BRICK WALL. THE BRAKES FAILED AND WERE TOTALLY USELESS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED, TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. I REPORTED TH…
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IN JUNE 2009 I WAS COASTING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA ACCELERATED, DROVE OVER A PARKING BUMPER, PLOWED INTO A SMALL TREE AND DROVE INTO A BRICK WALL. THE BRAKES FAILED AND WERE TOTALLY USELESS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED, TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS, LIKE MY OWN, WITH THE SCION. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT I MUST HAVE HIT THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES. THEY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM BUT UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHILE THEY WERE WORKING ON IT, THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I WROTE TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES IN TORRANCE, CA IN SEPTEMBER 2009 DESCRIBING MY CONCERNS AND NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THE ENGINE HAS RACED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, VERY OFTEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IT SEEMS TO FEEL LIKE IT IS "STICKING" AND/OR NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE THAT IT IS TIME TO GET INTO GEAR AND GO FORWARD. *TR
DRIVER AIRBAG RELEASED GAS AND SMOKE. I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. NO BUMPS, DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. GAS AND SMOKE WAS SO BAD THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT OF THE CAR FOR AIR. DEALERSHIP SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH AIRBAG. *TR
I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME BRAKE ISSUE WITH MY 2005 SCION (TOYOTA) XA AT LEAST TWICE, AS REPORTED ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING ABOUT THE TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT @ SUNRISE BLVD AND FOLSOM BLVD. AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I WAS GOING OVER A COUPLE OF SETS OF TRAIN TRACKS. THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE I WAS PROPELLED FORWARD…
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I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME BRAKE ISSUE WITH MY 2005 SCION (TOYOTA) XA AT LEAST TWICE, AS REPORTED ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING ABOUT THE TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT @ SUNRISE BLVD AND FOLSOM BLVD. AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I WAS GOING OVER A COUPLE OF SETS OF TRAIN TRACKS. THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE I WAS PROPELLED FORWARD WHEN I HIT THE TRACKS INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. IT LASTED ONLY A SECOND BUT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WROTE IT OFF LIKE IT WAS JUST MY IMAGINATION OR SOMETHING TILL I SAW THE NEWS. NOW MY WIFE IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I WARNED HER TO MAKE SURE SHE APPLIES THE BRAKES BEFORE ANY TRAIN TRACKS, AND TOLD HER I WOULD REPORT IT. I AM WORRIED ABOUT HER SAFETY. DOES THIS VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME BRAKING SYSTEM OR FLAW? PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGGRESSIVELY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGGRESSIVELY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING AND STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. THE PEDESTRIAN WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $2,500. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000. UPDATED 09/11/09 *BF UPDATED 09/16/09
ON JUNE 15, 2009 I WAS PARKING MY 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA IN MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE RACED AND TOOK OFF OVER THE BUMPER INTO THE WALL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BECAUSE THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES THEY JUST WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. MY …
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ON JUNE 15, 2009 I WAS PARKING MY 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA IN MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE RACED AND TOOK OFF OVER THE BUMPER INTO THE WALL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BECAUSE THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES THEY JUST WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT BUT MY CAR IS A MESS. WHEN I EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED AND WOULD CHECK OUT THE CAR AFTER THE BODY WORK IS DONE AND THE CAR BECOMES DRIVABLE AGAIN. THANKFULLY I DIDN'T INVOLVE ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME. AFTER READING OF ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH A TOYOTA TC, THAT INCIDENT FAR WORSE THAN MINE, I FELT I NEEDED TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN THAT NOT AND JUST NOT SOMEONE MISTAKING THE GAS PEDAL FOR THE BRAKES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, WHO STATED THAT THE HOUSING AROUND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IN THE ENGINE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS. HE CALLED …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, WHO STATED THAT THE HOUSING AROUND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IN THE ENGINE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,200.
TL*-THE CONTACT OWN A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN HER FRONT WHEEL WENT OFF THE ROAD AND AS SHE STEERED HER VEHICLE BACK ON TO THE ROAD SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TO SIX TIMES AND HER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD HEAD INJURIES AND WHIP LASH. THE DRIVER WA…
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TL*-THE CONTACT OWN A 2005 TOYOTA SCION XA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN HER FRONT WHEEL WENT OFF THE ROAD AND AS SHE STEERED HER VEHICLE BACK ON TO THE ROAD SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TO SIX TIMES AND HER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD HEAD INJURIES AND WHIP LASH. THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING HER THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT WAS NEVER SERVICED. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,500 UPDATED 05/15/09 *BF UPDATED 05/18/09.*JB
THE TOYOTA COROLLA SPORT 2005 HAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. THERE IS A PROLONGED CRANKING PROBLEM AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE MY CAR BACK AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED ABOUT 6 TIMES AND WHEN I WENT INTO ARBITRATION, I LOST. I HAVE BEEN A TOYOTA CUSTOMER FOR 10 YEARS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE COMPANY…
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THE TOYOTA COROLLA SPORT 2005 HAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. THERE IS A PROLONGED CRANKING PROBLEM AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE MY CAR BACK AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED ABOUT 6 TIMES AND WHEN I WENT INTO ARBITRATION, I LOST. I HAVE BEEN A TOYOTA CUSTOMER FOR 10 YEARS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE COMPANY AND I WILL NEVER BUY FROM TOYOTA AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT VALUE VALUED CUSTOMERS. *NM
AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH WHEN STRUCK BY A 1/2 TON PICKUP TRUCK COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I SUSTAINED A SEVERE NECK STRAIN(WHIP LASH). *JB
Official recalls
218V776000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
Nov 1, 2018
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Toyota Scion xA vehicles. The air bag control module for the supplemental restraint system (SRS ECU) may experience an internal short, possibly causing the air bags to unintentionally deploy, or become deactivated.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners unintentionally deploy, it can increase the risk of a crash. If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners are deactivated, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the SRS ECU, and if necessary, replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0W.
10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 3, 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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