Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2009 Scion XD — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Scion XD year.
31.6 mpg average · 26–35 range · EPA says 28
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.
Campaign 15V689000
Issue: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 22, 2005, through May 12, 2010, and 2008-2010 Scion xD vehicles manufactured April 4, 2007, through May 12, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the springs used for the seat rails on the driver's seat and the seat rails of the front passenger seat of three-door models may break.
Risk: If the spring breaks, the seat may not lock in position. In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat could move increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat rail, and replace it with a new one, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 14V169000
Issue: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Risk: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.
Campaign 12V491000
Issue: GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
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. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
Campaign 10V035000
Issue: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 SCION XD AND MY 2009-2010 COROLLA, AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L ENGINE AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WHEN DRIVING UNDER CERTAIN UNIQUE CONDITIONS IN EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SUCTION PORT FOR THE BRAKE VACUUM CAN BECOME BLOCKED DUE TO THE FREEZING OF CONDENSATION RESULTING FROM POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION.
Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED INTAKE AIR CONNECTOR WHICH WILL RELOCATE THE BRAKE SYSTEM VACUUM PORT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 09V338000
Issue: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign 10V036000
NHTSA has no NCAP crash-test rating for this model/year (common for older, low-volume, or heavy-duty vehicles).
The parts named most often across 23 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 crash · 3 injured
1 fire
1 crash · 1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
Drove car and heard loud noise issuing from the passenger side rear. Upon viewing the wheel was angled in at the top. After removing the wheel I found the rear crossmember subframe axle had a complete break in the weld holding the angle from the straight part of the beam to the wheel and suspension plate. After going online to see if similar issues happen on the same side of the vehicle, I found many reports of weld failures on the same side at the same joint. This is an EXTREMELY dangerous weld failure--if it had happened during highway travel the potential for catastrophic injury or death is high, in my opinion. Please investigate other reports to the NTSB about this make and model, and please search model years on or about 2007-2012 as other scion owners have had the same issue. This is a one owner car, we purchased it new in 2009. The opposite weld is also showing signs of stress, but not broken or cracked.
A major safety structural defect has developed in the rear axle beam. About 50 percent of the welds failed where the passenger side swing arm attaches to the rest of the axle. The lack of support ended up creating about a three inch stress crack across the width of the swing arm tube. This could have led to a complete failure of the swing arm, had I not found the problem. Had this failure occurred on the highway, it might have caused a serious accident. A month prior I started hearing a pop from the rear of the car each time I would back out of the driveway and the first time I went forward. I crawled under the car within about two weeks and checked things over but found nothing. I thought it might have been a coil spring shifting in its seat or a shock absorber with an internal problem. The noise continued and was getting a bit louder each time it occurred. I ended up lifting the back of the car and pulling the rear wheels. I first found the stress crack across the swing arm tube. Upon further inspection, I realized a portion of the welds had failed. The car is 14 years old and has 159k miles. There is rust that is contributing to the deterioration of the connection, yet the design of the swing arm and its connections seem as though they are barely sufficient when it was new. The design of the swing arm connections does not appear sufficient to be exposed to normal wear and tear of winter driving. In searching for a replacement part, this same exact swing arm is also used on the Toyota Prius C and a Yaris model. So this issue could be occurring on those models as well.
A RECA FOR MY POWER SWITCH MASTER CONTROL WAS ISSUED ON SEPT 15TH 2015 AND A FIX FOR THIS STILL HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED. THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN MY VEHICLE.
2009 TOYOTA SCION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE RADIO INDEPENDENTLY TURNED ON AND OF AND THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. *JS
FIX FOR WINDOW LUBRICANT ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, EVEN THOUGH RECALL IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION XD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.
THE DEALER THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR ONLY DOES RECALL WORK DURING THE WEEK I UNFORTUNATELY WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. WHICH I CAN NOT TAKE TIME OFF FOR AS THEY SAY IT MIGHT TAKE ALL DAY AND I DEPEND ON MY CAR FOR BUSINESS I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE MANAGER AT AUTONATION TOYOTA IN FORT MYERS FLORIDA BUT WAS TOLD THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AS THERE ARE 2 SAFETY RECALLS ONE INVOLVING MY SEATS AND THE OTHER INVOLVING A WINDOW SWITCH THAT COULD CATCH FIRE. I ORIGINALLY TRIED IN NOVEMBER TO SCHEDULE THIS BUT TO NO AVAIL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION XD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,283. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF CONSUMER STATED MOTOR SHUT DOWN, ITS LOCATED IN THE GAS LINE/ FUEL LINE WITH HAVING MORE THAN 1 MOTOR AND NOT BE TOLD. POWER WINDOWS ON PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IS WHERE THE 2ND AIR FILTER AND CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT AIR FILTER THAT FITS. CAR SOUND SYSTEM WOULD STOP WORKING AT TIMES. UPDATED 6/13/18*JB
WHEN I TRIED TO ROLL THE PASSENGER WINDOW DOWN, A PLUME OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE MASTER CONTROL PANEL. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING IT, BUT THE BUTTON FROZE INTO PLACE. I TOOK MY SCION INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR 2 RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS (DRIVER'S SEAT RAILING AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY) AND MENTIONED THE WINDOW CONTROL PANEL PROBLEM AND MY CONCERN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A RISK OF A FIRE. THE SERVICE TECH SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL? I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT MY CAR IS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE AND AM CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE NEWER MODEL SCION XDS? *TR
WHILE CAR RUNNING ON THE LOCAL ROAD, APPROX. 40 MPH, REAR WINDOW FROM DRIVER SIDE ROLLED DOWN ITSELF AND A LOT OF SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH CONTROLS AND FROM DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, INSIDE. TWO OF FOUR SWITCHES FROM MASTER SWITCH CONTROL THEN MELTED AND PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN, SEEMS LIKE THE BOTTOM PART OF THOSE SWITCHES CAUGHT FIRES OR SOMETHING, HOWEVER, NO FIRE WAS VISIBLE FROM THE EXTERIOR. WAS THEN PULLED TO THE BUSINESS PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE THEN SLOWLY STOPPED. CAR TOWED TO AND PARKED AT LOCAL TOYOTA/ SCION DEALER SIDE WAY, SERVICE CONSULTANT CHECKED MY VIN AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR VIN. (VISIBILITY: POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS RECALL DATE: 10/10/2012 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS PARTICULAR VIN) WAS THEN CONTACTED SCION RECALL SAME DAY AND THEY STARTED A FIRE CASE FOR INVESTIGATION, 3 DAYS LATER CASE MANAGER LETTING ME KNOW THAT TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES COULD TAKE UP TO A MONTH? THEY WANTED TO HOLD MY CAR AT THE DEALER UNTIL INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED, WITHOUT AN ESTIMATE OF COMPLETION DATE AND THEY OFFERED NO LOANER CAR OR RENTAL REIMBURSEMENT? WHY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V491000 -- AFFECTED -- TOYOTA SCION XD 2008-2009 -- THEN WHY THIS VIN WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SCION XD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PUSHING THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BUTTON, THE WINDOW OPENED AND FAILED TO CLOSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE WINDOW BUT FAILED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V491000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
I HAVE A 2009 SCION XD WITH ONLY 26,000 AND A CLEAN TITLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH WHICH NEARLY GOT ME IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. TURNS OUT THE WATER PUMP WAS THE CULPRIT AND SCION WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAULTY PUMP DESPITE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT. AFTER PAYING FOR A NEW WATER PUMP TO BE INSTALLED, I NOTICED SOMETHING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE HITTING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE NOISE GOT WORSE AND WORSE AND A SOMETHING CAME OUT AND FLEW OFF THE CAR, NEARLY HITTING THE VEHICLE DRIVING BEHIND ME AND CAUSED THEM TO SWERVE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. PLASTIC AND RUBBER PARTS FROM NEAR THE WHEEL WELL WERE MANGLED AND FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE CHEAP PLASTIC AND FASTENERS WERE POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND ATTACHED TO CLOSE TO THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSE THEM TO BECOME DESTROYED EVERY TIME I MADE SHARP TURNS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, AFTER SOLVING THE PROBLEM, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY THE VERY NEXT DAY, EXCEPT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SCION WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR POOR CONSTRUCTION AND CHEAP PARTS THAT COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOMEONE KILLED. *JS
Showing 12 of 23 complaints.