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2002 Lexus SC430

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
42Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
42
200220
20036
20049
2005
Compare all SC430 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
18Tires
5Suspension
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Structure
2
All reported categories
Wheels
2Electrical System
1Electronic Stability Control
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Traction Control System
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 18 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
1,000 miles · Mar 22, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY SC430 HAS HAD A STRONG SULFUR SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM (AFTER MEDIUM TO HEAVY ACCELERATION) SINCE IT WAS NEW. WHEN I FIRST MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO PUT A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND IT SHOULD GO AWAY. I GAVE IT SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES AND IT DIDN'T HELP. THEY THEN CHECKED IT OUT AND…

Read full complaint

MY SC430 HAS HAD A STRONG SULFUR SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM (AFTER MEDIUM TO HEAVY ACCELERATION) SINCE IT WAS NEW. WHEN I FIRST MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO PUT A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND IT SHOULD GO AWAY. I GAVE IT SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES AND IT DIDN'T HELP. THEY THEN CHECKED IT OUT AND TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM AND REFERRED ME TO A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAID I SHOULD TRY A DIFFERENT BRAND OF FUEL. I TRIED EVERY BRAND OF FUEL SOLD IN MY AREA (CHEVRON, UNION 76, SHELL, MOBILE, TEXACO, ARCO, ASTRO, ETC.) AND NONE OF THEM MADE ANY DIFFERENCE. MY DEALERSHIP THEN RAN EXTENSIVE TESTS ON MY VEHICLE AND SAID IT WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. I'M EMBARRASSED TO HAVE ANYONE RIDE IN MY CAR. I REQUESTED LEXUS BUY IT BACK AT KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICE AND THEY SAID BECAUSE IT WAS OPERATING NORMALLY THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THEY SHOULD TELL POTENTIAL BUYERS THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITH THE TOP DOWN UNLESS THEY DON'T PLAN TO ACCELLERATE TO FREEWAY SPEED OR PASS ANYONE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10063624

Official recalls

1

19V741000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.