NHTSA — Service Brakes Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,772 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Scion xB brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Scion xB Owner Comments

problem #15

Oct 122017

xB

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power steering shut off and the light is on on the dashboard with the break light too. Car was ok and then start to drive it on highway and all at a sudden the steering light went up and he brake light too and it shuted off the power steering

- Altamonte Springs, FL, USA

problem #14

Feb 202016

xB

  • 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Scion Xb. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the traction control monitor and the brake warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to be repaired but the details were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000. The VIN was not available.

- Garfield Heights, OH, USA

problem #13

Jun 102015

xB

  • miles
I looked to see how fast I was going (30 mph) and when I looked back up there was a car stopped in the road approximately 35ft ahead of me. When I applied the brakes my car never slowed down and I hit the other car.

- Azalea, OR, USA

problem #12

Dec 012011

xB 4-cyl

  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The initial incident occurred while driving the vehicle on partially snow covered pavement. As I applied the brakes to stop at an intersection, the vehicle began to skid. The vehicle stability control and ABS systems did not work, and the brake, ABS and vsc lights came on. The warning lights remained on for approximately one day as I continued to drive. After the warning lights turned off, they remained off for approximately two weeks, then the ABS and vsc systems failed again and the lights came back on. This problem occurs fairly regularly, six to eight times per year. I was quoted a cost of around $1200 to replace the rear hub assemblies and wiring harness replaced, with no guarantee that would solve the problem.

- Mokena, IL, USA

problem #11

Feb 042015

xB 4-cyl

  • 83,515 miles
Salt and snow causes error codes C0210, rear speed sensor rh circuit to malfunction and shuts down the ABS, traction control, and air bag deployment. All safety devices are off when salt is used on roadways. Salt and snow causes error codes C0215, rear speed sensor LH circuit to malfunction and shuts down the ABS, traction control, and air bag deployment. All safety devices are off when salt is used on roadways. This is a know problem with 2008-2009 Scion Xb, Toyota tsb S-sb-0040-09, July 6,2009 * connectors for these sensors are exposed to the environment, causing non deployment of safety devices leading up to, and during a crash**

- Washington, NJ, USA

problem #10

Dec 162013

xB 4-cyl

  • 48,000 miles
After a snowstorm, my ABS, vsc, stability control and traction control lights came on. Stayed on. Took to mechanic, they went out. He suspects ice build up. Ran scan. It shows right rear wheel sensor problem. Lights come on intermittently. Son's car is in shop for GM ignition recall for over a month now. So he drove my Scion to college. Called me and said lights were on again. I called mechanic, he feels it could be wheel bearing or speed sensor in that wheel, either rust or corrosion due to intermittent lights. He checked it again. Now vsc and traction lights are on anytime car is drive. I am taking it in today for wheel bearing replacement. After reading multiple complaints on this site, I am very upset and disappointed in what I thought was my dream car!!! Toyota needs to issue a recall and fix this problem immediately!

- West Milton, OH, USA

problem #9

Dec 012013

xB

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving down the road all of these lights came on. The lights on are the brake light, the ABS. The skid control, and the vsc. These lights came on during the winter and went back out several times. During January they came on and have not gone out sense. When I purchased the car the car fax report had said that the car had been in for a electrical problem previously. I am unsure if it is causing any problems but wonder if there are any safety problems connected with these lights.

- Twin Lake, MI, USA

problem #8

Dec 112013

xB 4-cyl

  • 91,892 miles
My Scion experienced loss of stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes during a snow storm in winter 2012. Warning lights for ABS, brakes and vsc on the gauge cluster illuminated at that time. While driving at slow speed in the storm I realized that ABS was not working. The warning lights remained lit for about two days, then went out and did not return until December 2013. My vehicle was in California during the winter of 2013, and did not experience any loss of ABS, brakes, vsc or traction control or illuminated warning lights. In December 2013 while driving in a light snow, approx 2 inches, exiting a local highway and approaching a stop sign at 25 mph I put pressure on the brakes to stop. My car spun around 360 degrees. I hit a snow bank and came to a stop. The entire time the vehicle stability system did not activate. The three warning lights for ABS, brakes and vcs are now continuosly lit. Anti-lock brakes, traction control and vehicle stability control still do not function.

- Southfield, MI, USA

problem #7

Jan 142014

xB

  • 34,000 miles
Speed sensor failed due to shortening of wire. This has caused ABS system stop functioning. There are no re-call by Toyota Scion yet. This type of problem has caused by defective part. Notice other people had same problem on same day. Also, many people posted same problem on web.

- Not Available , IL, USA

problem #6

Apr 222013

xB

  • 41,240 miles
I was coming to a stop and my brakes stuttered and seemed as if they locked up. Immediately after my brake, ABS, vsc and traction control lights came on. Minutes later they turned off but since then keep coming on and going off. The roads were very dry no rain or snow conditions. It has happened multiple times in the past week. Now I am scared to drive my car for the time being before they can get me into look at it. $120 to diagnose it and who knows how much afterwards. I have had this car for almost 5 years with only 80 miles on it when I purchased it. I am very upset for how much I've had to replace on this car. I only drive it to work and home with the occasional errands. Is it worth shelling out another $1000. This should be looked into for a recall.

- Waunakee, WI, USA

problem #5

Apr 082013

xB

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Sudden forceful braking 2 times in a 15 mile commute. Driving 55 mph with my foot firmly on the gas pedal, the car suddenly brake hard enough to tighten my seatbelt. 4 dash lights came on. ABS, brake, and traction control were all solid and vsc was flashing. Luckily the car behind me was alert enough not to rear-end me. The dash lights mentioned above come on and go off occasionally.

- Candor, NY, USA

problem #4

Mar 032011

xB 4-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
My tires slipped in the snow in March, very light snow. Not sure of the exact date. My brake light, ABS light and traction control light came on. A few days later they went off. Now all three are on most of the time even on clear, dry pavement. My anti lock brakes are not activating correctly and I was told that the senor is bad. I looked online and noticed this is a problem with this particular make and model. The car does not stop as it should. I also noticed from my research that Toyota is not taking responsibility for their defect and it is costing the consumer up to and over a thousand dollars to repair. I don't have that type of money to repair their defective part.

- Zion, IL, USA

problem #3

Dec 302012

xB

  • 78,000 miles
While driving on snowy and salted roads, the brake, ABS, and vsc lights all came on at the same time. They remained on while driving on those same snowy and salty roads. The next day they eventually went off. Weeks later they came on again in wet weather and remained on. The local Toyota service center duplicated the issue and pulled the diagnostic codes C0210 & C1238. The Toyota service center said the entire hub and bearing assembly had to be replaced as the internal ABS sensor which they said was at fault was not sold separately and only came as part of the hub and bearing assembly kit. Their quote to repair this issue was $915 for the replacement of one hub and bearing kit! this is ridiculous. Brake sensors should not fail due to snow, salt, or water coming into contact with them. This is a dangerous flaw in the design of this vehicle and one that is not commonly found with other makes and models, but is commonly reported all over the internet from other owners of Toyota's Scion Xb. Toyota should issue a safety recall for this vehicle and cover the cost to replace the sensors with ones that do not fail due to weather conditions.

- Sterling, VA, USA

problem #2

Oct 192012

xB

  • 59,000 miles
Scion has a tsb on parking brake cables that freeze in cold weather. When the cables freeze, it will cause the rear brake calibers to lock against the rotors. You would have to drive about 10 minutes to warm the rotors to unlock the brakes. This could cause brakes to fail and may not stop at all. I drove the Scion about 1 mile when a car made a left turn in front of me and the brakes and or traction control failed to work. I've noticed that the car still has stopping problems when its cold. I was lucky it was a low speed crash that caused about 5000 in damage. Scion Toyota has not recalled these cars for brakes and only your Toyota mechanics know of the problem.

- Edgewood, MD, USA

problem #1

Feb 022012

xB 4-cyl

  • 52,935 miles
Malfunctioning right rear wheel speed sensor causes ABS and vsc lights to go on and when lights are on the ABS and vsc do not function. Was told that I needed to replace the right rear hub, bearing, sensor and harness. Vehicle had only 52939 miles on it and was off warranty so would cost over $1000 to repair. Several months later, lights have gone off without repair. Noted that this is a common problem with Xb, yet no recalls.

- Orland Park, IL, USA

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