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2002 Lexus SC430 Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus SC430, most often about the air bags (43% of complaints, typically around 69,000 miles). It is the most complained-about SC430 model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.

Complaints42
Recalls1
Crashes reported4
Fires reported0
Injuries reported4

Most common 2002 Lexus SC430 problems

  1. Air bags

    18 complaints · 43%

    Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.

    Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus SC430. While driving 20 MPH, a bus crashed into the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a scrap yard. The contact sustained whiplash. The dealer was notified, but ignored the contact. The failure and current mileages were 69,000. Updated 12/12/08…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2008, at 69,000 miles
    Tl- the contact owns a 2002 Lexus SC430. The contact had received the recall repair for the air bag. The vehicle had extensive interior and some exterior damages after the repairs. The damages were to the dashboard, damaged the paint, scratched the tinted windows, the hood, leather seats in which the authorized dealer…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 71,000 miles

  2. Wheels and tires

    7 complaints · 17%

    Parts named most often: tread/belt, sidewall, rim.

    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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2003, at 9,000 miles
    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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 20,000 miles

  3. Suspension

    4 complaints · 10%

    Parts named most often: front.

    Left ball joint failure. Sheared off causing loss off vehicle control. Finally stopped just feet from going over the edge of a drop off. Damage to left side front end components, left front fender and both front tires destroyed.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 136,032 miles

  4. Speed control

    3 complaints · 7%

    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
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 32,000 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 49,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2002 Lexus SC430 recalls

  1. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 19V741000 · October 17, 2019 · 928,220 vehicles

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Fix: 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.

    Full defect summary

    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.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2002 Lexus SC430

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Lexus SC430?
By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (18 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles); wheels and tires (7 complaints); suspension (4 complaints).
How many recalls does the 2002 Lexus SC430 have?
1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2002 a bad year for the Lexus SC430?
It is the most complained-about SC430 model year since 2000, with 42 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Lexus SC430 years

Lexus SC430 problems by year