DASH INSTRUMENT SPEED, TACH, GAS, AND TEMPERATURE NEEDLES NO LONGER ILLUMINATE. THEREFORE, YOU CAN NOT VIEW THEM AT NIGHT AND, OFTEN, DURING THE DAY. NO ADEQUATE REPAIR IS AVAILABLE. *TR
1992 Lexus SC400
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all SC400 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 30 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
30 reportsUNINTENDED ACCELERATION, MY 1992 LEXUS SC400 ACCELERATED TO NEARLY 90 MPH ON A 50 MPH RD. AFTER GOING THROUGH A YELLOW LIGHT. WHEN I WAS NEAR THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH I LET UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR WAS CLIMBING IN SPEED AS IF I WAS STILL ON THE ACCELERATOR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TWICE AND EACH TIME I DID IT FELT LIKE I…
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UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, MY 1992 LEXUS SC400 ACCELERATED TO NEARLY 90 MPH ON A 50 MPH RD. AFTER GOING THROUGH A YELLOW LIGHT. WHEN I WAS NEAR THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH I LET UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR WAS CLIMBING IN SPEED AS IF I WAS STILL ON THE ACCELERATOR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TWICE AND EACH TIME I DID IT FELT LIKE I WAS BEING PUSHED FROM BEHIND SO I PUT ON "N" ONLY TO HEAR THE RPM'S REV REALLY HIGH. I DON'T HAVE FLOOR MATS BUT I HAD THE CAR SERVICED EARLIER THAT DAY BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE AUTOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT OF THE COLLEGE I WAS ATTENDING THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE THEN DESPITE THE FACT I CONSTANTLY TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SEE IF IT SLOWS DOWN. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND THEREFORE NO INJURIES. *TR
1. THE LAST TIME MY CAR HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS AT A SERVICE STATION WHEN I SHIFT THE GEAR FROM "D" TO "R". I HOLD THE BRAKE REAL HARD AND SHIFTED THE GEAR IN "N" AND THE ENGINE RPM BACK TO NORMAL. THE WHOLE EVENT CAUSED ABOUT TWO SECOND AND ALMOST HIT A CAR BEHIND MY CAR, SMOKE WAS GENERATED FROM TIRE SPINNING. 2. SUDDEN A…
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1. THE LAST TIME MY CAR HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS AT A SERVICE STATION WHEN I SHIFT THE GEAR FROM "D" TO "R". I HOLD THE BRAKE REAL HARD AND SHIFTED THE GEAR IN "N" AND THE ENGINE RPM BACK TO NORMAL. THE WHOLE EVENT CAUSED ABOUT TWO SECOND AND ALMOST HIT A CAR BEHIND MY CAR, SMOKE WAS GENERATED FROM TIRE SPINNING. 2. SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT 2 TIMES A YEAR AT RANDOM. 3. NOTHING HAVE DONE TO MY CAR BECAUSE REPAIR SHOP CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, AND EVERY TIME THE PROBLEM OCCUR, I JUST PUT THE GEAR IN "N" AND THE ENGINE WILL BACK TO NORMAL. THE PROBLEM APPEARED MOSTLY WHEN THE GEAR IS IN "D", AND HAPPENED ONCE IN "R". DID NOT KEEP RECORD ON INCIDENT DATE, DATE SHOULD BELOW IS ESTIMATE. *TR
MY CAR IS A USED 1992 LEXUS SC400 AND I BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS SC400. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM TRAPPED THE BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE AND THE REAR BRAKE LINE. AS A RESULT, THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO DRAG AND ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES COULD BE USED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 92V046000 (SERVICE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS SC400. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM TRAPPED THE BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE AND THE REAR BRAKE LINE. AS A RESULT, THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO DRAG AND ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES COULD BE USED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 92V046000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS SC400. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 230,000. *AK THE REAR BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WHEN COMING TO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS SC400. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 230,000. *AK THE REAR BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WHEN COMING TO A FULL. UPDATED 05/04/07*TR
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1992 LEXUS SC400, ACCELERATED RAPIDLY TO ABOUT 50 MPH WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY. SHE STATED THAT WHILE BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 2 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS WAS EARLY MORNING OF 01/31/06, THE WEATHER AND DRIVEWAY CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED AND PRESSED TO THE FLO…
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TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1992 LEXUS SC400, ACCELERATED RAPIDLY TO ABOUT 50 MPH WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY. SHE STATED THAT WHILE BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 2 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS WAS EARLY MORNING OF 01/31/06, THE WEATHER AND DRIVEWAY CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED AND PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE, BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO HER HUSBAND LAST MONTH, AND HE ALMOST RAN INTO THE A GARAGE. *AK
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OF MY 1992 SC400 IS GOING OUT AND AT NIGHT, I HAVE TO USE A FLASH LIGHT TO SEE MY GAUGES. LEXUS OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CLUSTER WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN FOR AROUND $1500! *JB
LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT SEPARATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROX 30MPH, RUSULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. MAJOR DAMAGE TO FENDER WELD, WHEEL AND TIRE. NO PERSON WERE INJURED DUE TO LOW SPEED AND NO TRAFFIC.*AK
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
Official recalls
192V046000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components
Apr 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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