"How reliable is the 2004 Scion Xa?"

"Based on 20 NHTSA complaints, the 2004 Scion Xa has a median complaint mileage of 32178 miles. The most common issue is UNKNOWN OR OTHER."

"What are common problems with the 2004 Scion Xa?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Scion Xa is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, accounting for a significant portion of the 20 total complaints filed."

2004 Scion Xa: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 20 complaints

Total Complaints

32,178mi

Median Mileage

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

22,100 25th Percentile

32,178 Median Mileage

101,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TIRES

AIR BAGS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

TIRES:SIDEWALL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"OUR 2004 PRIUS ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS HAD A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN WITH LOTS OF INDICATOR LIGHTS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ONCE IN A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, AND ONCE AS..."

"DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CAR DECREASED IN SPEED TO ABOUT 20 MPH. CALLED THE DEALER, AND DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. DID THAT, BUT ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS STAYED ON. THE CAR DROVE NORMAL FROM THAT POINT. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPAIRED THIS P..."

"DT: CONSUMER STATES: THE CAR SMELLS LIKE SULFUR DIOXIDE COMING IN THE CAR THROUGH VENTS AND COMES CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER TRIED TO FIXED IT. THOUGHT IT WAS ORIGINALLY FROM BUSES IN THE CITY. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28