Total Complaints
12 filings
LEXUS SC400 · model year
1993 LEXUS SC400
12 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993LEXUSSC400 carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 1993 SC400 is vehicle speed control with 2 filings, followed by equipment:appliance:air conditioner (2) and exterior lighting:headlights (2). 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 1993 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.
12
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20190918CrashAIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1993 LEXUS SC400. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WHICH SEVERELY BURNED THE CONTACT'S CHIN, LIPS, AND NECK. THE AIR BAG ALSO BURNED PARTS OF THE CONTACT'S CHEST AND TORSO AREA. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20100604CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 4/25/10 WITH A 1993 LEXUS SC400 VIN# [XXX] . I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT CONTROLLED INTERSECTION WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I FEEL THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP CONTROLLING EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR IDLING SPEED FAILED AS THE VEHICLE COULD NOT COME TO A HALT AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO DROP DOWN TO NEUTRAL AND/OR THE IDLE COULD NOT DROP DOWN TO LESS THAN 1000 RPM. I REALIZE IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE AND COMPUTER CHIPS COULD FAIL DUE TO AGE BUT I WONDER IF THIS COULD BE A DESIGN FLAW OF THE FAIL SAFE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY. COULD YOU LET ME KNOW IF ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 132,768
20100604CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 4/25/10 WITH A 1993 LEXUS SC400 VIN# [XXX] . I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT CONTROLLED INTERSECTION WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I FEEL THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP CONTROLLING EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR IDLING SPEED FAILED AS THE VEHICLE COULD NOT COME TO A HALT AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO DROP DOWN TO NEUTRAL AND/OR THE IDLE COULD NOT DROP DOWN TO LESS THAN 1000 RPM. I REALIZE IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE AND COMPUTER CHIPS COULD FAIL DUE TO AGE BUT I WONDER IF THIS COULD BE A DESIGN FLAW OF THE FAIL SAFE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY. COULD YOU LET ME KNOW IF ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 132,768
20070306SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LEXUS SC400. THE TRACTION CONTROL LOGIC PROGRAM FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE DRAGGING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Mileage: 112,000
20060926EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PART FAUILURE. *JB
Mileage: 32,000
20041230EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONDENSATION DEVELOPED OVER THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING . *AK
Mileage: 142,000
19991129EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
BAD ODOR AND MOLD COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAUSES NOUSEA, SORE THROAT AND HEADACHE TO THE OWNER. YH
19991129TIRES
TIRE WORN OUT. YH
19991118UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ILLUMINATION FOR THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASH HAS FAILED. VEHICLE SPEED IS NOT KNOWN. *AK
19991025EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I HAVE HAD PERSISTENT MOLD AND BAD ORDOR COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. I'M ALLERGIC TO MOLD AND OTHER THINGS AT TIMES IT CAUSES NAUSEA, SORE THROAT, HEADACHE AND CONGESTION.
19990226CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER WAS PARKING VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATTED FOR UNKNOWN REASON, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER TWO OTHER VEHICLES, WHICH WERE DAMAGED. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK
19990217CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED WHILE CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
Compare 1993LEXUSSC400 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 LEXUS SC400 have?▼
The 1993 LEXUS SC400 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 LEXUS SC400?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 LEXUS SC400 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS.
Is the 1993 LEXUS SC400 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.