2005 Scion XA problems & reliability
40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Scion XA, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
7 complaints report injuries (12 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags → | 14 | 35% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 13% |
| Visibility | 5 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 10% |
| Steering | 3 | 8% |
| Tires | 3 | 8% |
| Seats | 2 | 5% |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 5% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 5% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 20 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 23 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 45,000 miles (middle 50% between 19,376 and 113,960 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The air bag light has been trigger on and won't go off. Nov 1, 2018 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.”
Air Bags · filed Mar 30, 2022
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 scion xa. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle shook and the driver felt a vibration coming from the engine. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact drove to herrin-gear toyota (6100 interstate 55 north frontage rd, jackson, ms 39211, (601) 391-6346) where it…”
Engine · filed Aug 16, 2019
“I am an older gal with no car...my daughter gave me her car so I could take my 95 year old mom around. One day the airbag light came on. I took it in and the man said it would be $700.00. I don't have any extra money. Today I saw the takata airbag recall on television. I called toyota..they said mine was not on the…”
Air Bags · filed Nov 2, 2018
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
42 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2005 Scion XA. The 10 most recent:
SB: Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in individual Service…
S-SB-0015-14 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 26, 2015
SB: Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are released as field-fix procedures described in individual Service…
S-SB-0015-14 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 26, 2015
SSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure. Refer to the applicable Repair Manual for vehicle specific repair procedures…
S-SB-0005-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2015
SSB: The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure. Refer to the applicable Repair Manual for vehicle specific repair procedures…
S-SB-0005-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 13, 2015
SSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
S-SB-0023-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
SSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
S-SB-0023-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
Automatic/Continuously Variable Transmission Replacement Precautions
S SB 0024 14A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE-October 16, 2014: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see S-SB-0024-14.
S-SB-0020-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON," shifting issues, and/or transmission damage. Use the…
S-SB-0024-14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle assembly replacement. Incorrect torque…
S-SB-0003-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2005 Scion XA has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2005 Scion XA?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 45,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.