Total Complaints
2 filings
LEXUS SC400 · model year
1998 LEXUS SC400
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998LEXUSSC400 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 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 1998 SC400 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 1 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1). 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 1998 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.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110215CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS SC400. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED IT INTO REVERSE AND CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY HAVE NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
20020124ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LEXUS LOT ONLY A COUPLE HOURS LATER, IT WAS POURING THE RAIN. I CAME ACROSS STANDING WATER ON THE ROAD. SEVERAL CARS ZOOMED RIGHT THROUGH, INCLUDING THE FORD ESCORT IN FRONT OF ME. SO I PROCEEDED ONLY TO FIND THAT MY ENGINE WOULD CEASE AND FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS I WOULD PAY A HEFTY PAYMENT WITH NOTHING TO DRIVE. LEXUS SAID THEY COULDN'T DO A THING FOR US THAT IT WAS AN ACT OF GOD. I WANT TO KNOW WHY EVERY OTHER CAR DID NOT GET AFFECTED BY THE "ACT OF GOD". YOU'D EXPECT A $58,0000 TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT A FORD ESCORT CAN DO AT LEAST. LUCKILY OUR INSURANCE COVERED THE $17,124 BILL. THE ENGINE ONLY HAD 4,329 MILES ON IT,I BOUGHT A PREOWNED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED,INTAKE/GASKETES, ALL HEADLIGHT LAMP ASSEMLIES,SENSOR ETC.. REPLACED. THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT I CALLED LEXUS CUSTOMER HOTLINE THEY GAVE ME A CONFIRMATION # TO GET REIMBURSED FOR ANY HOTEL , RESTAURANT RECEIPTS, OR RENTAL CAR FEES BUT WHEN I TRIED TO GET REIMBURSED THEY SAID THEIR CUSTOMER R
Compare 1998LEXUSSC400 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 LEXUS SC400 have?▼
The 1998 LEXUS SC400 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 LEXUS SC400?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 LEXUS SC400 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1998 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.