Lexus SC400 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 20 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file for the Lexus SC400, across 7 model years (1995–2001). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (9). The most reported problem area overall is tires.
Lexus SC400 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No SC400 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 SC400: 9 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 SC400: 4 complaints, 1 recall
- 1999 SC400: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1997 SC400: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2000 SC400: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2001 SC400: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Lexus SC400 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Lexus SC400 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 SC400 | 1 | 0 | — | Tires | |
| 2000 SC400 | 1 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1999 SC400 | 2 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1998 SC400 | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1997 SC400 | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1996 SC400 | 4 | 1 | — | Tires | |
| 1995 SC400 | 9 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Lexus: all Lexus models · Lexus VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus SC400 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1995 (9), 1996 (4), 1999 (2). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Lexus SC400?
Tires, with 5 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Lexus SC400 have?
1 safety recall across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.