The 2004 Scion Xa has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 16,992 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS18V7760002018-11-0116,992 affected
Defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Toyota Scion xA vehicles. The air bag control module for the supplemental restraint system (SRS ECU) may experience an internal short, possibly causing the air bags to unintentionally deploy, or become deactivated.
Consequence
If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners unintentionally deploy, it can increase the risk of a crash. If the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners are deactivated, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the SRS ECU, and if necessary, replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0W.
Complaints by component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
1fires
AIR BAGS
2
2crashes1injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
TIRES
2
ENGINE
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
Total complaints20
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My mother in law hit a tree going 50 mph hitting the passenger side of her car into tree, airbags did not go off. Because the airbags did not deploy she suffered major head trauma that lead to her death. The impact was so severe her passenger side of car was bent in to drivers side and she…”
“My mother in law hit a tree going 50 mph hitting the passenger side of her car into tree, airbags did not go off. Because the airbags did not deploy she suffered major head trauma that lead to her death. The impact was so severe her passenger side of car was bent in to drivers side and she…”
“License plate is stolen over the night, while parked at 1200 lick av. San jose.”
“I just got home from work I was home 30 minutes. My son told me my car was cutting off an on. Grabbed my keys went outside an my was turning off an on ,started my car with the keys it started up, turned it off it came back on an it was idling hard then smoke started coming from engine popped my…”
“I just got home from work I was home 30 minutes. My son told me my car was cutting off an on. Grabbed my keys went outside an my was turning off an on ,started my car with the keys it started up, turned it off it came back on an it was idling hard then smoke started coming from engine popped my…”
“I just got home from work I was home 30 minutes. My son told me my car was cutting off an on. Grabbed my keys went outside an my was turning off an on ,started my car with the keys it started up, turned it off it came back on an it was idling hard then smoke started coming from engine popped my…”
“Driving home and hit another vehicle that was stopped. I was going approx. 40-45 mph. At the time of the accident. I rear ended a older cadillac, in my scion xa, the air bags never went off!!”
“During a routine drive home, I drove over rail road tracks and the car began to accelerate without my foot on the gas pedal. The car continued to accelerate with both feet on the break. I verified that the floor mat was not stuck on the pedal. I placed the car in neutral and the engine was still…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Scion Xa as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.