Lexus SC400 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
102,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 50 complaints (14.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 28.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 7; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags: 3; Interior Lighting: 3; Tires: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 1; 2000: 6; 2001: 3; 2002: 4; 2003: 6; 2004: 11; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10074381 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED OVER TIME AND NOW THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. THERE WAS A HYDRAULIC BRAKES RECALL 92V046000 ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE MANUFACTURE IS INDICATING THAT THE VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VIN NUMBER RUN BY ALLDATA AND A MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED. *NM THE ALL DATA DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WOULD BE STRESSED BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTIONING TRACTION CONTROL AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075465 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
TRACTION CONTROL FAILED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334615 · 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)
I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 4/25/10 WITH A 1993 LEXUS SC400 VIN# [XXX] . I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT CONTROLLED INTERSECTION WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I FEEL THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP CONTROLLING EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR IDLING SPEED FAILED AS THE VEHICLE COULD NOT COME TO A HALT AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO DROP DOWN TO NEUTRAL AND/OR THE IDLE COULD NOT DROP DOWN TO LESS THAN 1000 RPM. I REALIZE IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE AND C…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,768 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154260 · 2006-03-31 (March 31, 2006)
ON TWO OCCASIONS JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A SIGNAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD FOR NO REASON, AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THIS MOTION WITH THE BRAKES, SO I QUICKLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING AT 6,000 RPM. AFTER THIS OCCURRED THE SECOND TIME, WHEN PARKING IN THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD CHANGE BY ABOUT 200-300 RPMS ABOUT EVERY 5TH TIME WHEN JUST APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK. A POSSIBLE PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE FACT THAT WHEN I BOUGHT THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,290 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033180 · 2017-10-13 (October 13, 2017)
TWO WEEKS AGO A RED WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH SHOWING AN AIR BAG DEFICIENCY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF WAYZATA FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REMOVAL OF THE WARNING LIGHT. I LATER RECALLED THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED DUE TO A POOR CONNECTION ABOUT THE TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT WAS FIXED BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON. LEXUS WANTED OVER $1600 TO OBTAIN A NEW AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE INCLUDING LABOR COSTS, BROKEN DOWN INTO PARTS COST $1150 AND LABOR $470. I FURNISHED THE USED SENSOR ON THE INTERNET FOR $95 AND THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED. SAVED OVER $1000 …
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959958 · 1995-02-13 (February 13, 1995)
IN CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE STALLS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959958 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1990: 0; 1992: 1; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0