NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Lexus SC430 Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Lexus SC430 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 42 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Lexus SC430. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2002 Lexus SC430 owner complaints

Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus SC430, describing incidents dated January 3, 2002 to May 6, 2018.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 18 complaints
Tires 6 complaints
Suspension 4 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Structure 2 complaints

Of the 42 complaints on file, 4 report a crash; across all 42 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11185031 · Filed March 8, 2019
GETTING TOTALLY JERKED AROUND THEY CALL AND NEVER FOLLOW UP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR YEARS NOW.
ODI #11092111 · Filed May 6, 2018
THERE IS CONDENSATION IN THE HEAD LAMPS WHICH AFFECTS HOW WELL THEY WORK AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED OR HAD ANY TYPE OF INJURY THAT WOULD RESULT IN CONDENSATION BEING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IMPAIRS HOW WELL THE HEADLAMPS WORK.
ODI #11034972 · Filed November 8, 2017
2002 LEXUS SC430. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR MODULE SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICOLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLETED, BUT WAS TOLD THE ZONE WAS NOT CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED TO COMPLEE THE REPAIR. UPDATED 11/08/2017*JS

Read all 42 complaints

Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode

NHTSA #19V741000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported October 17, 2019 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 928,220 vehicles

Repair completion: 72.6% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign J0A, J0B, J0C, JLI · Owners notified November 20, 2019 · Vehicles built January 8, 2001 – July 29, 2010 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2002 Lexus SC 430 Convertible w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

3 investigations

42 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Lexus SC430.

Air Bags

ODI #11185031

Incident: April 13, 2013 · Filed: March 8, 2019

GETTING TOTALLY JERKED AROUND THEY CALL AND NEVER FOLLOW UP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR YEARS NOW.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11092111

Incident: May 6, 2018 · Filed: May 6, 2018

THERE IS CONDENSATION IN THE HEAD LAMPS WHICH AFFECTS HOW WELL THEY WORK AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED OR HAD ANY TYPE OF INJURY THAT WOULD RESULT IN CONDENSATION BEING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT COVERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IMPAIRS HOW WELL THE HEADLAMPS WORK.

Air Bags

ODI #11034972

Incident: September 21, 2017 · Filed: November 8, 2017

2002 LEXUS SC430. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR MODULE SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICOLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLETED, BUT WAS TOLD THE ZONE WAS NOT CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED TO COMPLEE THE REPAIR. UPDATED 11/08/2017*JS

Air Bags

ODI #10860961

Incident: April 1, 2015 · Filed: April 22, 2016

TAKATA RECALL BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ON WHAT TO DO TO GET THIS FIXED.

Air Bags

ODI #10859889

Incident: April 5, 2016 · Filed: April 16, 2016

HAD AIRBAG RECALL DONE ABOUT 1500 MILES AGO, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS NOW ON , STEADY ,ALL THE TIME

Air Bags

ODI #10732173

Incident: May 20, 2015 · Filed: July 6, 2015

I HAD THE SAFETY RECALL, CONCERNING THE AIRBAG INFLATOR MODULE, DONE ON MY CAR BUT NOW THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON.

Service Brakes

ODI #10693669

Incident: March 7, 2015 · Filed: March 11, 2015

DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IM FORTUNATE THAT I DIDN'T CRASH THE VEHICLE INTO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE! CONTACTED LEXUS TO LET THEM KNOW THE ISSUE AND THEY BASICALLY LAUGHED IT OFF !! POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!! *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10673019

Incident: May 28, 2014 · Filed: January 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V312000 (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 FAILURE. THE SPECIFICS OF THE FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10660946

Incident: June 2, 2014 · Filed: November 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V312000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.

Air Bags

ODI #10660937

Incident: July 15, 2014 · Filed: November 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V312000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Other Lexus SC430 model years

Check your 2002 Lexus SC430 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus SC430 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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