ScionXB2008Overview/scion/xb/2008/base/

2008 Scion XB

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 XB.

Transmission Automatic (S4)

The 2008 Scion XB is characterized by its 4.5‑qt engine oil capacity and 5W‑20/0W‑20 API viscosity requirement, paired with an Automatic (S4) transmission and an EPA fuel‑economy rating of 22/28/24 mpg. Despite that efficiency, the model carries nine recalls and records the highest owner‑complaint total for the 2002‑2015 period—339 reports, with air‑bag issues cited most often. This peak in complaints situates the 2008 model year at the top of the XB’s reliability history, standing in stark contrast to the low‑complaint 2003 baseline.

Model year201520142013201220112010200920082006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/28/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 575 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZF1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 575 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-55R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZF1
Engine air filter17801YZZ06
Fuel filter7770612011
Spark plug9008091180
Battery2880064132
Front wiper blades8521212470 alt 8522212870
Serpentine belt90916A2005
Thermostat9091603136 alt 163250T030
Cabin air filter8713902090 alt 8713950100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S4)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 28 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume101 cu ft
Cargo volume22 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the XB of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2–9.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 2008 Wagon
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2008Wagon 2.4L I-47.20 sec15.60 sec158 hpFWD
2008Wagon 2.4L I-47.80 sec16.00 sec158 hpFWD
2008Wagon 2.4L I-48.50 sec16.40 sec158 hpFWD
2008Wagon 2.4L I-48.70 sec16.60 sec158 hpFWD
2008Wagon 2.4L I-49.40 sec17.30 sec158 hpFWD
2009Wagon 2.4L I-48.50 sec16.40 sec158 hpFWD
2006Wagon 1.5L I-49.60 sec17.30 sec103 hpFWD
2004Wagon 1.5L I-410.10 sec17.13 sec108 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 / 0W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.7
Engine Oil5W-20 · 0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity5.3

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts72 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts22 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts27 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Timing8-12, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.73-.86 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.51 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance575 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Engine Compression145-189 PSI. 14 Maximum variation PSI
Engine Oil Pressure36-78 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.007-0.011 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.015-0.019 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs / 42 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.006 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.984 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.984 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.866 in / 0.335 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30 ft. lbs., Step 3: 9015 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Scion XB recorded 339 complaints, a sharp rise from 3 in 2007 and still above 140 in 2009, while its 9 recalls were modestly higher than 2007’s 5 but below 2009’s 11, with the first investigation opening that year (1). The vehicle’s top complaint categories were Air Bags (125 reports), Visibility (40), Engine (28), and Steering (26). Crash‑related complaints numbered 30 and fire complaints 7, both a small fraction of the total complaint volume. Given the pronounced complaint spike and the concentration of air‑bag and visibility issues, the 2008 model sits at the high‑end of the generation’s problem arc, making it a less advisable purchase.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
141
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
339
Owner complaints
30 involved a crash · 7 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 339 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags125
Visibility40
Engine28
Steering26
Electrical System16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Structure5
Power Train5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18E091000Service Brakes, HydraulicReported 20/09/2018

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… 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…

19V741000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/10/2019

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 141 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-PANT-2024-004-2024-03-04Engine And Engine CoolingThis is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil…
Z3G_Dealer_Lette2022-12-14StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…
ZKG_Dealer_Lette2022-12-14StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…
Z2G_Dealer_Lette2022-12-14StructureDL: Toyota has received reports of paint peeling on certain vehicles with the original…
Takata CSP Cover2022-07-28Air BagsCSP: Takata CSP Coverage Job Aid - published 7.28.2022

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific XB. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 XB take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 XB have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the XB get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg.