The 2013 xB uses Toyota's 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine paired with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. While the chassis is reliable, this engine generation has a critical oil consumption defect that can lead to catastrophic failure if not monitored obsessively.
Excessive Oil Consumption Leading to Engine Failure (2AZ-FE)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Oil level dropping 1+ quart between changes, Check engine light with misfire codes, Sudden loss of power or knocking sounds if oil runs critically low
Fix: Root cause is piston ring design allowing oil to bypass into combustion chambers. Toyota issued TSB but many engines outside warranty window. Short-term fix is oil consumption additive and vigilant monitoring (check oil every 500 mi). Long-term requires piston/ring replacement or short block swap: 18-24 labor hours for proper rebuild, 12-16 for short block R&R
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Corrosion and Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid spots under vehicle, Burnt fluid smell, Shifting delays when cold, Pink/red fluid visible near radiator area
Fix: Steel cooler lines rust at fittings where they connect to radiator and transmission. Starts as seepage, progresses to active leak. Replace both lines plus flush ATF if contaminated. 2.5-3.5 labor hours including fluid service
Estimated cost: $400-700
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Steering wander or pull, Uneven tire wear on inside edge, Vibration through steering wheel at highway speeds
Fix: Rubber bushings deteriorate allowing excess play. Most techs replace entire control arms rather than pressing bushings (not worth the labor). Both sides recommended even if only one symptomatic. 2-2.5 labor hours for pair with alignment
Estimated cost: $500-800
Evaporative Emissions Charcoal Canister Failure
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0441/P0446 codes, Difficulty filling gas tank (pump clicks off repeatedly), Fuel smell near rear of vehicle, Hissing sound when removing fuel cap
Fix: Canister located behind rear bumper clogs or purge valve fails. Diagnosis requires smoke test to confirm canister vs. lines. Canister replacement: 1.5-2 labor hours. If just purge valve: 0.8-1.2 hours
Estimated cost: $350-650
Water Pump Bearing Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Grinding or whining noise from front of engine, Coolant seepage below water pump, Engine overheating, Play in water pump pulley when wiggled by hand
Fix: Not a timing chain engine so pump accessible. Replace pump, thermostat, and upper/lower hoses as preventive measure. Flush coolant. 3-4 labor hours with ancillary components
Estimated cost: $450-750
Rear Hatch Strut Failure and Latch Sticking
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Hatch won't stay open or falls slowly, Difficult to close hatch requires slamming, Latch mechanism feels gritty or catches, Hatch rattles over bumps when closed
Fix: Gas struts lose pressure over time—common wear item. Latch mechanism needs cleaning and lithium grease, sometimes replacement if internals corroded. Struts: 0.5 labor hours for pair. Latch service: 1-1.5 hours if replacement needed
Estimated cost: $200-450
Owner tips
Check engine oil level every 500-750 miles religiously—this engine generation WILL consume oil even when 'healthy'
Consider switching to 5W-30 high-mileage synthetic oil at 75k+ to help reduce consumption slightly
Replace transmission fluid every 30k miles (not 60k as manual states) to extend transmission life
Inspect transmission cooler lines annually in rust-belt states—catch corrosion early before leak develops
Buy only if you're committed to compulsive oil monitoring or if seller has documentation of piston/ring service—otherwise the 2AZ-FE is a ticking time bomb that can grenade without warning.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Be the first to unlock repairs for the 2013 Scion xB
Procedures haven't been generated for this vehicle yet. Become the founding sponsor and we'll generate expert-grade, step-by-step repair walkthroughs for every common job on it — free for every mechanic and DIYer who looks it up after, forever.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 19V005000
2019-01-09 · EA15001
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A."
Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B."
Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · 18E091000
2018-09-20
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota as an optional accessory for model year 2008-2015 Scion xB, and 2011-2016 Scion tC vehicles. Over time, the brake hoses in these kits may fatigue and fail.
Consequence: Failure of a brake hose will reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify all known owners of the Scion xB and Scion tC vehicles upon which an involved optional TRD Brake Kit could have been installed. If the vehicle is equipped with one of the TRD brake kits, it will be replaced with a standard equipment brake kit, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0U.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V024000
2018-01-09 · EA15001
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A."
Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B."
Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C."
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.