In late 2005 I started conducting reliability research. I'm reporting absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so it's possible to provide reliability information on new models like the 2008 very quickly--if enough owners sign up to help out. The sooner enough owners of the 2008 get involved, the sooner others considering the car will have some reliability information to factor into their decision.

With first-year designs, reliability is always a question mark. Some do start out with problems, but the manufacturer often quickly identifies and addresses these. With TrueDelta's quarterly updates, any such improvement becomes apparent within a few months.

Participants report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members will receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

Comments, questions, and suggestions welcome.

 

Getting there. If just a few more 2nd-gen owners sign up, I can start collecting data on the car next month.

 

Enough owners are now signed up to get started, so data collection will start on the 2008 xB next week.

I'd very much like to have initial results for the 2008 in February. For this to happen, more people will have to sign up and participate.

Details here:

Vehicle reliability research

 

A dozen now signed up. If a couple dozen more sign up in the next few weeks, we'll have a result in February.

Auto reliability research

 

17 now. February looking less likely, but still possible if enough people sign up before the middle of December.

Auto reliability research -- need more 2008s!

 

Now 21. Results are unlikely in February, but as long as people continue to join as they have been they're almost certain for May.

Auto reliability research

 

Thanks to an unusually high participation rate, the 2008 xB will be in the February results after all. The sample size will be very small, though, so the result will be asterisked.

Additional participants would be very helpful. For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

 

Back in February we reported a "worse than average" repair rate for the second-gen xB, mostly due to issues with exterior trim.

That result was based on an insufficient sample size, though.

With the next update, in May, we hope to have more data, and so a more solid result. This will depend on how many owners sign up and participate in the short surveys.

To help make this happen:

Vehicle reliability research (link)

 

The May update has been posted, and the repair rate has improved to average. The exterior trim issues appear to have only affected some early cars.

Full set of results here; additional participants would be helpful:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

 

Next update in August.

Additional participants always helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

 

That update in a week or so.

We've had good participation from xB owners, but a larger sample size would of course be better.

Vehicle reliability research

 

That update has been posted. The 2008 xB's repair rate has improved to better than average. Seems the early trim glitches are now behind it.

Additional participants always helpful.

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

 

Next set of results in November. Additional participants would be helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

 

my motor blew with 5000 miles on it

 

I don't think boosted cars count... good luck boosting!

 

it actually happend the day before i put the turbo on when i was doing the turbo instal i noticed the oil pick up was clogged with gray toyota sealent that had rubbed off from the timming chain cover kinda ___ but oh well

 

How blown was the motor? You were able to go ahead and install the turbo the next day?

On the research, we'll have updated results in a couple of weeks.

Good participation by 2008 owners. But more would be good to have. And need 2009s to also report on that year soon.

Vehicle reliability research

 

In the latest results, the 2008 Scion xB had a repair rate 39 successful repair trips per 100 cars per year, which is about average, maybe a bit better.

With more participants, we could provide more precise results. Especially need more 2009s.

For the full set of results, and to sign up to help:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

 

This month's survey is the last before the February results. Additional participants would be very helpful, especially for the 2009.

Car reliability research

 

Updated results have been posted. The repair rate of the 2008 xB remains low, if not as low as the first-gen xB.

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and also include the 2009--especially need more of these.

TrueDelta does now have a separate page of reliability results for each model. The one for the xB is here:

Scion xB reliability comparisons