RoadVitals

2002 Lexus Sc Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Latest Sep 29, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus Sc, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags350.0%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Steering116.7%
  • Suspension116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

LEXUS HAS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PERFORM AIRBAG RECALL REPLACEMENT

NHTSA ID 11282624 · filed Nov 27, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 10763531 · filed Sep 14, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Lexus SC430. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 110,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 220,000.

NHTSA ID 11690398 · filed Sep 29, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT SUSPENSION PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. *DT CONSUMER REQUESTED ISSUE BE REMOVED FROM YOUR DATABASE.*JB

NHTSA ID 11292050 · filed Dec 30, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT SUSPENSION PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. *DT CONSUMER REQUESTED ISSUE BE REMOVED FROM YOUR DATABASE.*JB

NHTSA ID 11292050 · filed Dec 30, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .