Is the 2006 Scion xB a bad year?
253 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other xB years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Scion xB are in line with other xB years. Visibility and wipers stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 xB owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 20,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 148 (58%) | 11k–34k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 27 (11%) | 22k–84k miles · ahead | — |
| Body structure | 23 (9%) | 48k–97k miles · ahead | — |
| Electrical system | 12 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 20,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 253 complaints: 18 mention a crash · 8 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2006 Scion xB: 11
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. This does not meet the standard requirements.
These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain rostra precision controls' speed controls may have a faulty module. These controls were installed by southeast Toyota dealers or at their vehicle processing center on certain passenger vehicles. When the speed control "On/off" Switch is pressed once to turn the unit off, the throttle does not return to idle. A crash could be cause in the event that the cruise control does not allow the engine to return to idle on the first depression of the "On/off" Switch.
Certain rostra precision controls' speed controls may have a faulty module. These controls were installed by gulf states Toyota (Gst) dealers or at their vehicle processing center on certain passenger vehicles. A crash could be cause in the event that the cruise control does not allow the engine to return to idle on the first depression of the "On/off" Switch.
Certain rostra cruise controls, p/nos. 00012-X0486-01, 00015-X0486-01, 00012-X0486-21, 00016-79910, 00016-79910-01, and 250-1755, installed as original equipment on my 2006-2007 gulf states Toyota and southeast Toyota Scion vehicles and also sold as aftermarket equipment. Failure to release the throttle when the cruise control is turned off could result in a vehicle crash.
Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Scion: 27
Repair instructions Scion sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Scion xB. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The procedure in this bulletin is a general guideline on how to properly diagnose the air conditioning system after a component failure
If a creak, tick, or rattle noise is heard at the top of the windshield, the source of the noise may be the two windshield stoppers bonded to the top…
Neighbouring years
2005 xB: 92 complaints, keep it.
Every Scion xB year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · All xB years side by side
Other Scion models: Scion FR-S · Scion tC. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Scion xB a bad year?
253 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other xB years. At 20,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Scion xB?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (148), speed control (27), body structure (23), electrical system (12), brakes (10).
How many recalls does the 2006 Scion xB have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10V-036), Equipment (NHTSA 10V-035), Equipment (NHTSA 09V-223), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.