1992 Lexus SC400: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 25 complaints (24.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 36.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 2 |
Electrical System: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 5
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002784 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
HEADLAMP LENS FOG UP, REDUCING ILLUMINATION DRAMATICALLY AND CAUSING A SAFTEY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAVE NOTED MUCH NEWER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTUER'S DEFECT AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE PREMATURE: SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE LIGHT FAILURE, CD CHANGER FAILURE, AND CRACKED DASH AIR VENT FRAMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013807 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP AND YOU CANNOT TELL THE SPEED OF YOUR VEHICLE. LEXUS MADE THE REPLACEMENT PART RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT SELLS FOR AROUND $1000. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014286 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
MY LEXUS SC400 1992 HAS A CRACKED CENTER AC VENT, BAD CD CHANGER AND ALMOST ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS ARE BURNED OUT. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR ON ALMOST EVERY SC400 IN THE EARLY MODEL YEARS AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE DUE TO DESIGN FAULTS BY THE LEXUS COMPANY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072808 · 2004-05-18 (May 18, 2004)
FRONT HEADLAMPS FILL WITH MOISTURE REDUCING NIGHT VISABILITY TO NEXT TO NOTHING. ALL YEARS OF THIS SC400 MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS $500.00 PER LIGHT AND LABOR. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT!!!. A SEAL SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST. SPENDING 1K EVERY FEW YEARS IS A RIP OFF. THE FRONT DASH SPLITS AT AIR VENT. THE AM RADIO DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *AK THE CD PLAYER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THERE ARE MANY FACTORY DEFECTS NOT ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND LIVES AT STAKE WITH A HEADLA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072808 at NHTSA ↗
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 10080462 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE LIGHTS ON MY 1992 SC40 BEGAN GOING BAD AT AROUND 75,000 MILES [1999]. BY 95,000 MILES 50% OF LIGHTS ARE OUT. BY DESIGN THE PANEL/NEEDLES MUST BE REPLACED WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE. I HAVE BEEN PUTTING IT OFF BECAUSE MY WIFE USUALLY ONLY DRIVES THE SC400 DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, BUT NOW MY SON WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT OVER AND THE PROBLEM OF SAFETY DURING NIGHT DRIVING COMES INTO PLAY. TOYOTA/LEXUS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF BUILDING SUCH A GREAT CAR WITH A MONUMENTAL FLAW SUCH AS THIS. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089705 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *MR WHEN THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089705 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
92V046000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
Reported: 1992-04-01 (April 1, 1992)
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER LOGIC PROGRAM WAS INCOMPLETE, RESULTING IN THE TRAPPING OF BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINES. FAILURE TO RELEASE THE REAR BRAKE LINE PRESSURE CAUSES A CONDITION WHERE BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION RESULTS IN ACTIVATION OF THE FRONT BRAKE ONLY, AND CONTINUAL REAR BRAKE DRAG.
Consequence: FAILURE TO RELEASE THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN THE REARBRAKE LINES CAUSES THE REAR BRAKES TO "DRAG" AND A CONDITION WHERE ONLY THEFRONT BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED BY OPERATOR. THISRESULTS IN EARLY WEAR OF THE REAR BRAKE LINING, INCREASES OF STOPPING DISTANCES,AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER, AND IF ANY BRAKE SYSTEM IS DAMAGED FROM THE DEFECTIVE OPERATION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, REPAIR THE DAMAGE AT NO COST.
NHTSA campaign record ↗