Comparison

SCION XA vs SCION XD

Side-by-side comparison of the SCION XA and SCION XD drawn from the NHTSA consumer-complaint database, defect investigations, recall history, and NCAP crash-test ratings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,000,000 consumer complaints have been filed against U.S. vehicles (2,054,142 as of August 2026). This is a head-to-head safety comparison between the SCION XA (2004–2006) and the SCION XD (2006–2014), drawn from that federal complaint and recall record; see our methodology for how the figures are compiled.

The SCION XA (2004–2006, 3 model years) carries 166 NHTSA consumer complaints and 6 safety recalls, while the SCION XD (2006–2014, 8 model years) carries 167 complaints and 7 recalls. Severity indicators for the pair split as follows: 37 vs 24 crashes, 6 vs 6 fires, and 2 vs 0 reported fatalities.

Raw complaint counts favor whichever nameplate has fewer vehicles on the road, so the cleaner lens is components: which specific part families concentrate each model's filings? For the SCION XA, the leading complaint category is air bags (28 filings), followed by vehicle speed control and electrical system. For the SCION XD, it is service brakes (21), ahead of vehicle speed control and suspension. When the two vehicles cluster around the same component, the problem is likely a shared supplier or a shared federal standard under stress; when they diverge, each nameplate has its own defect signature independent of the other.

Average NCAP crash-test scores are not uniformly available for both nameplates in this dataset, which typically means one or both pre-date the 2011 rating methodology refresh. Use the side-by-side table below as your scorecard, but do not treat it as a verdict. Recall counts tell you how many defects the manufacturer has already been compelled to remedy; complaint counts tell you what owners are still flagging today; and safety ratings tell you how the vehicle performs in standardized barrier tests, three different lenses on the same underlying question. The "also compare" links at the bottom of this page let you triangulate against neighboring nameplates in each model's competitive set.

SCION XA vs SCION XD - NHTSA complaint, recall, and safety rating comparison
SCION XA Metric SCION XD
N/A Avg Safety Rating N/A
166 Total Complaints 167
6 Total Recalls 7
37 Crashes Reported 24
6 Fires Reported 6
26 Injuries Reported 19
2 Deaths Reported 0
3 years Years on Market 8 years

Top Complaint Categories

AIR BAGS
28
10
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12
16
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
11
0
ENGINE
10
0
SERVICE BRAKES
0
21
SUSPENSION
0
16
SCION XA SCION XD

Compare Another Pair

Search for any two vehicle models to compare their safety records side by side.

Go to Compare Tool →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, SCION XA or SCION XD?
SCION XA has 166 total NHTSA complaints with 37 crashes, while SCION XD has 167 complaints with 24 crashes. Review individual model years for specific safety ratings.
How many recalls does SCION XA have compared to SCION XD?
SCION XA has 6 recalls across 3 model years, while SCION XD has 7 recalls across 8 model years.
What are the most common problems with SCION XA?
The most commonly reported issues for SCION XA are: AIR BAGS (28 complaints), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (12 complaints), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (12 complaints), FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE (11 complaints), ENGINE (10 complaints).
What are the most common problems with SCION XD?
The most commonly reported issues for SCION XD are: SERVICE BRAKES (21 complaints), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (17 complaints), SUSPENSION (16 complaints), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (16 complaints), AIR BAGS (10 complaints).

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data