Total Complaints
40 filings
LEXUS SC400 · model year
40 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992LEXUSSC400 carries 40 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1992 SC400 is electrical system with 6 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (5) and vehicle speed control (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1992 SC400. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
40 filings
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
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
Mileage: 70,000
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
Mileage: 220,578
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
Mileage: 2,540
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.
Mileage: 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
Mileage: 230,000
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
Mileage: 230,000
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
Mileage: 160,000
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
Mileage: 160,000
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
Mileage: 194,000
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
Mileage: 194,000
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
Mileage: 75,000
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
Mileage: 92,000
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
Mileage: 75,000
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
Mileage: 75,000
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!
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
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.