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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

What owners actually said

42 reports
20,000 miles · Mar 4, 2004
Wheels

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WHEEL RIM PROBLEM. FIRST, PASSENGER SIDE REAR RIM CRACKED AND DAMAGED TIRE. SECONDLY, DRIVER SIDE REAR RIM CRACKED, AND ALSO DAMAGED THE TIRE. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT NORMAL SPEED ON NORMAL ROAD SURFACE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10061362

7,100 miles · Feb 27, 2004
Seats

THE LOCATION AND THE WAY THE SEAT RECLINES BACKWARDS UNTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, CAUSES A SAFETY RISK. CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGE THE BUTTON TO DECLINE THE SEAT UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST SQUASHED THEIR TODDLER SEATING IN THE REAR SEAT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10059900

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 · Sep 18, 2003
Suspension

I JUST CAN CONFIRM ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SC430S HANDLING. DANGEROUS - ESPECIALLY ON ROUGH ROADS. CAR TENDS TO FOLLOW ANY KIND OF ROAD ABNORMALLY. I COMPLAINED AT LEXUS FROM THE FIRST DAY (OVER TWO YEARS NOW). REPLACED RUN FLATS, STILL NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE A SUSPENSION RELATED PROBLEM. LEXUS THINKS…

Read full complaint

I JUST CAN CONFIRM ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SC430S HANDLING. DANGEROUS - ESPECIALLY ON ROUGH ROADS. CAR TENDS TO FOLLOW ANY KIND OF ROAD ABNORMALLY. I COMPLAINED AT LEXUS FROM THE FIRST DAY (OVER TWO YEARS NOW). REPLACED RUN FLATS, STILL NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR. SEEMS TO BE A SUSPENSION RELATED PROBLEM. LEXUS THINKS THIS IS NORMAL- HA HA - $70000 PIECE OF SHI.. I'M TOTALLY UPSET ABOUT REACTION FROM LEXUS DEALER AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10039130

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2003
Wheels

VEHICLE WHEELS ARE BECOMING OUT OF ROUND CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *MR VEHICLE VIBRATED AT 65 MPH AND VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. AS A RESULT 2 TIRES AND 2 WHEELS WERE BENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026344

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2003
SteeringSuspension

WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT ANY KIND OF VARIANCE IN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. NLM *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020146

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

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2003
Unknown Or Other

WHILE THE CONSUMER RINSED THE VEHICLE AT A CAR WASH HE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT FINISH BEGAN TO PEEL AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. PH *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10011627

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

SPEED CONTROL FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10005961

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

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.