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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

Tires complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2005
Tires

2002 LEXUS SC 430 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE EQUIPPED RUNFLAT TIRES.*MR THE CONSUMER DIDN'T LIKE THE RUN FLAT TIRES BECAUSE THEY PRODUCED UNBEARABLE ROAD NOISE AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. WHEN THE TIRES ENCOUNTERED GROOVED PAVEMENT THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE CONSUM…

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2002 LEXUS SC 430 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE EQUIPPED RUNFLAT TIRES.*MR THE CONSUMER DIDN'T LIKE THE RUN FLAT TIRES BECAUSE THEY PRODUCED UNBEARABLE ROAD NOISE AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. WHEN THE TIRES ENCOUNTERED GROOVED PAVEMENT THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT 2 OF THE TIRES WERE BULGING AND ON EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10131290

35,500 miles · Oct 8, 2003
Tires

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RUNS FLAT-SIDEWALL FAILURE-RUN FLAT FEATURE FAILED RUINING WHEEL, BUBBLE APPEARED ON SIDEWALL OF 2 TIRES. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041438

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2003
Tires

I OWN AN "02 LEXUS SC 430..WITH RUN FLAT TIRES. THE TIRES PULL BADLY WHEN RUNNING ON UNEVEN GROUND..SOMETIMES THE PULL IS SO BAD YOU MUST HOLD THE WHEEL FIRMLY OR YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT 2 DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT IS NORMAL FOR RUN FLAT TIRE…

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I OWN AN "02 LEXUS SC 430..WITH RUN FLAT TIRES. THE TIRES PULL BADLY WHEN RUNNING ON UNEVEN GROUND..SOMETIMES THE PULL IS SO BAD YOU MUST HOLD THE WHEEL FIRMLY OR YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT 2 DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT IS NORMAL FOR RUN FLAT TIRES. I WENT TO A TIRE DEALER..HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING. THESE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE..AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY YOUR AGENCY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018681

9,000 miles · Jan 28, 2003
Electronic Stability ControlService Brakes, HydraulicTires

WHILE IN MOTION AND IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A 360* SPIN, WHILE MOVING AT ONLY 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL TRACTION. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE INOPERABLE. WHILE ON AN INCLINE AND BRAKING FROM ABOUT 5 MPH THE VEHICLE JUMPED AN ISLAND BEFORE THE BRAKES STOPPED IT. *JG

NHTSA ODI #10004060

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2002
Tires

ABOUT A YEAR AGO I BOUGHT A 2002 LEXUS SC 430 HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES BECAUSE THE INSIDE TREAD WAS CUPPING AND MAKING HORRENDOUS GROWLING AND VIBRATION NOISE. I CALLED LEXUS AND THE FACTORY REP CAME OUT AND TALKED TO ME AND SAID THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING AND THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE FIXED. …

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ABOUT A YEAR AGO I BOUGHT A 2002 LEXUS SC 430 HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES BECAUSE THE INSIDE TREAD WAS CUPPING AND MAKING HORRENDOUS GROWLING AND VIBRATION NOISE. I CALLED LEXUS AND THE FACTORY REP CAME OUT AND TALKED TO ME AND SAID THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING AND THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE FIXED. I COULD NOT SEE THE PROBLEM AND THE TIRES LOOKED PERFECT UNTIL YOU REMOVED THEM AND EXAMINED THEM. MY WORRY, APART FROM THE $2,000.00 TO REPLACE THE TIRES IS THAT THE VIBRATION OF THE TIRE AT HIGH SPEED COULD CAUSE A FAILURE. I FEEL THAT LEXUS KNOWINGLY SOLD A CAR WITH AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THE STEERING WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IF NOT FIXED. LEXUS GAVE ME A NEW SET OF TIRES BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY SHOULD GET A PASS ON THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759322

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.