2003 Lexus SC430: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 30.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10070188 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE CAR FAILED TO START SIX TIMES IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS. IT SEEMS THEY HAVE FOUND THE CAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUES TO MAKE CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER IT GOES OVER A BUMP. LEXUS TELLS ME THAT IS NORMAL. I SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE A 1973 DODGE I OWNED 30 YEARS AGO. THE CAR ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. AGAIN I'M TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND IS A RESULT OF THE RUN FLAT TIRES. IF SO, THEY SHOULD USE OTHER TIRES. PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THIS CAR BE REPLACED REPEATEDLY. L…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139647 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
2003 LEXUS SC430 HAS PROBLEMS WITH RUN FLAT TIRES AND RIMS. THE RIMS ARE BENT AND DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS RUNOUT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE DRIVING. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THREE DEALERS, LEXUS OF GRAPEVINE WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, LEXUS OF SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER AND PARKE LEXUS OF LITTLE ROCK. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE LEXUS DISPUTE SETTLEMENT CTR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162624 · 2006-07-06 (July 6, 2006)
THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH 2003 LEXUS SC430. *KB ***NAR*** WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH EITHER THE BRAKES OR STEERING. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE TIRES BUT OFFERED NO INFORMATION ON WHERE TO PURCHASE THEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326605 · 2010-04-20 (April 20, 2010)
I AM FORMALLY FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST A VEH 2003 LEXUS SC430. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS VEH HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DATED APRIL 3, 2010 AT ABOUT 2AM. AFTER THE COLLISION, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TIRE WAS OUT AT THE LEFT BOTTOM AREA OF THE CAR. I WAS TURNING ON A PARKING LOT (180 DEGS) TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH, THE WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. IT ACCELERATED INTO PARKED VEHICLES IN FRONT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I TOOK PICS OF THE VEHICLE AT AN IMPOUND AND I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL STEERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10413309 · 2011-07-18 (July 18, 2011)
THE TPM LIGHT TURNED ON. I HAVE ADJUSTED TIRE PRESSURE, HAD THE DEALER ADJUST TIRE PRESSURE AND HAD AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER ADJUST THE TIRE PRESSURE. THIS WAS DONE ACCORDING TO SPECS. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE TPM LIGHT IS ON AND HAS NOT OFFERED A REMEDY. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421447 · 2011-08-25 (August 25, 2011)
THIS IS AN ISSUE INVOLVING THE APPARENT FAILURE OF THREE OUT OF FOUR GOODYEAR ASYMMETRIC TIRES. FIRST ISSUE WAS A BUBBLE FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LET LOOSE A THIN VERY LONG RIBBON OF RUBBER FROM THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TREAD. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LEFT REAR INNER SIDEWALL BLEW OUT IN TWO PLACES LIKE A BURSTING BUBBLE. THESE TIRES HAVE THE SAME DATE CODE AND WERE PUT ON THE CAR AT THE SAME TIME APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF PRIOR TO THE FIRST FAILURE. THE TIRE WITH TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10421447 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.
19V741000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-10-17 (October 17, 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 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗