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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
49,000 miles · Jun 18, 2013
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE GEAR IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBORS DOOR, FENCE, HOUSE AND AIR CONDITION. DURING THE CRASH BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE TAKEN …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE GEAR IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBORS DOOR, FENCE, HOUSE AND AIR CONDITION. DURING THE CRASH BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 7/22/13 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10520548

32,000 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A PARKING LOT CAUSING MY VEHICL TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. TOYOTA EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY REFUSESD TO GIVE ME A LETTER SAYING THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WHICH I REQUESTED IN WRITING TWICE. UPDATED 02/14/11 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10381988

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

SPEED CONTROL FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10005961

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.