Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Lexus SC400. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 30 · page 1 of 2
DASH INSTRUMENT SPEED, TACH, GAS, AND TEMPERATURE NEEDLES NO LONGER ILLUMINATE. THEREFORE, YOU CAN NOT VIEW THEM AT NIGHT AND, OFTEN, DURING THE DAY. NO ADEQUATE REPAIR IS AVAILABLE. *TR
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, MY 1992 LEXUS SC400 ACCELERATED TO NEARLY 90 MPH ON A 50 MPH RD. AFTER GOING THROUGH A YELLOW LIGHT. WHEN I WAS NEAR THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH I LET UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR WAS CLIMBING IN SPEED AS IF I WAS STILL ON THE ACCELERATOR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TWICE AND EACH TIME I DID IT FELT LIKE I WAS BEING PUSHED FROM BEHIND SO I PUT ON "N" ONLY TO HEAR THE RPM'S REV REALLY HIGH. I DON'T HAVE FLOOR MATS BUT I HAD THE CAR SERVICED EARLIER THAT DAY BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE AUTOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT OF THE COLLEGE I WAS ATTENDING THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE THEN DESPITE THE FACT I CONSTANTLY TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SEE IF IT SLOWS DOWN. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND THEREFORE NO INJURIES. *TR
1. THE LAST TIME MY CAR HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS AT A SERVICE STATION WHEN I SHIFT THE GEAR FROM "D" TO "R". I HOLD THE BRAKE REAL HARD AND SHIFTED THE GEAR IN "N" AND THE ENGINE RPM BACK TO NORMAL. THE WHOLE EVENT CAUSED ABOUT TWO SECOND AND ALMOST HIT A CAR BEHIND MY CAR, SMOKE WAS GENERATED FROM TIRE SPINNING. 2. SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM OCCURRED ABOUT 2 TIMES A YEAR AT RANDOM. 3. NOTHING HAVE DONE TO MY CAR BECAUSE REPAIR SHOP CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, AND EVERY TIME THE PROBLEM OCCUR, I JUST PUT THE GEAR IN "N" AND THE ENGINE WILL BACK TO NORMAL. THE PROBLEM APPEARED MOSTLY WHEN THE GEAR IS IN "D", AND HAPPENED ONCE IN "R". DID NOT KEEP RECORD ON INCIDENT DATE, DATE SHOULD BELOW IS ESTIMATE. *TR
MY CAR IS A USED 1992 LEXUS SC400 AND I BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS SC400. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM TRAPPED THE BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE AND THE REAR BRAKE LINE. AS A RESULT, THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO DRAG AND ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES COULD BE USED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 92V046000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS SC400. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 230,000. *AK THE REAR BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WHEN COMING TO A FULL. UPDATED 05/04/07*TR
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1992 LEXUS SC400, ACCELERATED RAPIDLY TO ABOUT 50 MPH WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY. SHE STATED THAT WHILE BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 2 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS WAS EARLY MORNING OF 01/31/06, THE WEATHER AND DRIVEWAY CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED AND PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE, BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO HER HUSBAND LAST MONTH, AND HE ALMOST RAN INTO THE A GARAGE. *AK
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OF MY 1992 SC400 IS GOING OUT AND AT NIGHT, I HAVE TO USE A FLASH LIGHT TO SEE MY GAUGES. LEXUS OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CLUSTER WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN FOR AROUND $1500! *JB
LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT SEPARATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROX 30MPH, RUSULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. MAJOR DAMAGE TO FENDER WELD, WHEEL AND TIRE. NO PERSON WERE INJURED DUE TO LOW SPEED AND NO TRAFFIC.*AK
VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *MR WHEN THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *SC *JB
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE LIGHTS ON MY 1992 SC40 BEGAN GOING BAD AT AROUND 75,000 MILES [1999]. BY 95,000 MILES 50% OF LIGHTS ARE OUT. BY DESIGN THE PANEL/NEEDLES MUST BE REPLACED WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE. I HAVE BEEN PUTTING IT OFF BECAUSE MY WIFE USUALLY ONLY DRIVES THE SC400 DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, BUT NOW MY SON WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT OVER AND THE PROBLEM OF SAFETY DURING NIGHT DRIVING COMES INTO PLAY. TOYOTA/LEXUS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF BUILDING SUCH A GREAT CAR WITH A MONUMENTAL FLAW SUCH AS THIS. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM NOR IS IT RESTRICTED TO THE LEXUS BRAND OF THE PARENT TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY. *JB
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED OVER TIME AND NOW THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. THERE WAS A HYDRAULIC BRAKES RECALL 92V046000 ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE MANUFACTURE IS INDICATING THAT THE VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VIN NUMBER RUN BY ALLDATA AND A MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED. *NM THE ALL DATA DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WOULD BE STRESSED BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTIONING TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEM. THE REAR PADS WERE REPLACED AT 15000 MILES. *NM
TRACTION CONTROL FAILED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
FRONT HEADLAMPS FILL WITH MOISTURE REDUCING NIGHT VISABILITY TO NEXT TO NOTHING. ALL YEARS OF THIS SC400 MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS $500.00 PER LIGHT AND LABOR. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT!!!. A SEAL SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST. SPENDING 1K EVERY FEW YEARS IS A RIP OFF. THE FRONT DASH SPLITS AT AIR VENT. THE AM RADIO DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *AK THE CD PLAYER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THERE ARE MANY FACTORY DEFECTS NOT ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND LIVES AT STAKE WITH A HEADLAMP PROBLEM. JUST ONE PERSON GETTING INJURED OR DIEING IS TOO MUCH. I NEED TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT!
MY LEXUS SC400 1992 HAS A CRACKED CENTER AC VENT, BAD CD CHANGER AND ALMOST ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS ARE BURNED OUT. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR ON ALMOST EVERY SC400 IN THE EARLY MODEL YEARS AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE DUE TO DESIGN FAULTS BY THE LEXUS COMPANY.*JB
THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP AND YOU CANNOT TELL THE SPEED OF YOUR VEHICLE. LEXUS MADE THE REPLACEMENT PART RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT SELLS FOR AROUND $1000. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *JB
HEADLAMP LENS FOG UP, REDUCING ILLUMINATION DRAMATICALLY AND CAUSING A SAFTEY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAVE NOTED MUCH NEWER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTUER'S DEFECT AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE PREMATURE: SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE LIGHT FAILURE, CD CHANGER FAILURE, AND CRACKED DASH AIR VENT FRAMES.
TS
WHILE DRIVING DASH GAUGE NEEDLES FOR ALL GAUGES DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE SPEED/ GAS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AN DVEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
CD CHANGER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OF ERRORS AND THE BAD PART IS THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION FOR ADAPTERS TO GET NEW UNITS. THE DEALER IS THE ONLY PLACE TO GET A UNIT FROM AT HORRIBLE PRICES $700. FOR A NEW ONE AND AROUND $450.00 FOR A REFURBISH ONE THAT WILL PROBABLY FAIL IN A YEAR RIGHT AFTER THE WARR. GO BY WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM AND GO BY THE SC OR ANY OF THE FORUMS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.. THE HEADLIGHTS HOLD CONDINSATION THAT BLURS VISION AT NIGHT, THE PWER STEERINGPUMP IF LEAKS SOME DIRECTLY ON THE ALTERNATOR CAUSES PREMATURE FAILURE MY ALT. HAS BEEN REPLACED BEFORE AND I JUST FOUND OUT WHY IT HAS BEEN FAILING BY A LEXUS TECHICIAN. AND THE DASH VENT CRACKS WITHOUT A CAUSE ON MANY OF THE CARS AND THE PRICE TO REPLACE THAT CENTER ABS PEICE IS $460.00 ONLY FROM LEXUS. WHY IS IT CRACKING IN THE FIRST PLACE? MANY CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEMS.... OLDER AND NEWER... .
MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN BOTH LOW BEAM ASSEMBLIES HAS REDUCED LIGHT OUTPUT TO UNSAFE LEVEL.
THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOES NOT ILLUMINATE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ESPECIALLY DURING DAYTIME DRIVING. NLM
GAUGE NEEDLES BURNE DOUT. REPLACED GAUGE CLUSTER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CONDENSE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE,MAKING LOW BEAM LUMINATION INADEQUATE. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .