2004 Lexus SC430 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Lexus SC430, 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
- Airbags646.2%
- Electrical215.4%
- Tires & wheels215.4%
- Body & structure17.7%
- Heating & air conditioning17.7%
- Suspension17.7%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS SC430. 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS SC430. 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2004 Lexus SC430. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the radio was activated and there was an abnormal sound coming from the antenna. The contact noticed the antenna hanging off the holster and structuring the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 159,000.
LEXUS SC 430 2004 SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT PEDAL OR SOMETHING BUT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DIDN'T THINK MUCHOF IT UNTIL NOTICE THE RECALL NO INCIDENT DATES BUT FILLED OUT FORM ANYWAY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE AN LEXUS SC430 2004 WITH 40K MILES ON IT. I HAVE REPEATEDLY PUT NEW TIRES ON THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME, THAT'S THE WAY THE TIRES ARE GOING TO WEAR BECAUSE ITS A SO CALL SPORTS CAR. THE TIRES IS WEARING DOWN TO THE WIRE ON THE INSIDE OF ALL THE TIRES ABOUT EVERY 7,000-8,000 MILES. IT'S NOT SAFE AND IT'S $356 A TIRE. *TR
DT: ON MARCH 7, 2005 THE CALLER WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING A TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM ABOUT 2 INCHES. HE SAID IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2005. HE WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. IT HAPPENED BOTH TIMES TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER ASKED, THE FIRST TIME, IF HE HIT SOMETHING AND THEY FIXED IT BY GIVING HIM A NEW RIM AND TIRE. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 2004 SC430 WELDED FIREWALL. *TS THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVEN. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY THE DEALER. AT THE 10000 MILE CHECKUP THE BODY WAS WELDED AT THE LEFT FIREWALL AND THE LEFT SIDE BUMPER WAS THEN PROPERLY ATTACHED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS MOLD GROWING ACROSS THE CLIMATE EXCHANGE. HE SMELLS MILDEW COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITION DUCT AND SOME DOCTORS STATED THAT HE WAS TERMINALLY ILL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEY CLEANED AND INSTALLED A NEW AIR CONDITION UNIT. THE CONTACT BECAME ALLERGIC TO THE ANTIFREEZE THAT WAS BEING INSTALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 2004 SC430 WELDED FIREWALL. *TS THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVEN. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY THE DEALER. AT THE 10000 MILE CHECKUP THE BODY WAS WELDED AT THE LEFT FIREWALL AND THE LEFT SIDE BUMPER WAS THEN PROPERLY ATTACHED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *NM
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .