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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Lexus SC430 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

39,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 20 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior630.0%
Steering behavior420.0%
Transmission and shifting15.0%
Electrical and battery issues15.0%

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.

Air Bags
10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
Steering
2
Tires
2
Electrical System
1
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Power Train
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Steering2
Tires2
Electrical System1
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Power Train1

Air Bags: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Steering: 2; Tires: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 13 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.

2003
1
2004
2
2005
1
2006
1
2010
1
2011
2
2013
1
2014
6
2015
2
2017
2
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20031
20042
20051
20061
20101
20112
20131
20146
20152
20172
20201

2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 2; 2017: 2; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10049111 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)

THE CAR VEERS VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING ON A ROAD THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY SMOOTH. DEPENDING UPON THE UNEVENNESS IN THE ROAD, THE CAR WILL JERK THE STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY EITHER WAY. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR ACTUALLY CHANGE LANES WHEN BRAKING. LEXUS SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL ACTION FOR THIS CAR. IF SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DANGER WHO ARE DRIVING THIS MODEL CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 3300 MILES ON IT. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049995 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)

WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT STEERING WHEEL JERKS HARD TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN BRAKING, OCCASIONALLY CHANGING TO ANOTHER LANE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049995 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11013787 · 2017-08-08 (August 8, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THEN SHUT OFF, AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THAT THE NONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULD CLOSE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE F…

Owner-reported narrative. 167,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013787 at NHTSA ↗