1992 Lexus SC400 recalls & problems

The 1992 Lexus SC400 has 1 safety recall and 30 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (12 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints30filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components

NHTSA recall 92V046000 · Apr 1, 1992 · 1,415 vehicles

Problem: THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER LOGIC PROGRAM WAS INCOMPLETE, RESULTING IN THE TRAPPING OF BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINES. FAILURE TO RELEASE THE REAR BRAKE LINE PRESSURE CAUSES A CONDITION WHERE BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION RESULTS IN ACTIVATION OF THE FRONT BRAKE ONLY, AND CONTINUAL REAR BRAKE DRAG.

Risk: FAILURE TO RELEASE THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN THE REARBRAKE LINES CAUSES THE REAR BRAKES TO "DRAG" AND A CONDITION WHERE ONLY THEFRONT BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED BY OPERATOR. THISRESULTS IN EARLY WEAR OF THE REAR BRAKE LINING, INCREASES OF STOPPING DISTANCES,AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Fix: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER, AND IF ANY BRAKE SYSTEM IS DAMAGED FROM THE DEFECTIVE OPERATION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, REPAIR THE DAMAGE AT NO COST.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash; Instrument cluster/panel	12	0	1	75,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc	5	0	0	138,500 mi
Exterior lighting Headlights	5	1	0	—
Vehicle speed control	4	1	0	—
Unknown or other	3	0	0	—
Power train	2	0	0	—
Equipment Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	2	1	0	—
Interior lighting	2	0	0	—
Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly; Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm	2	2	0	—
Structure Body › Door	1	0	0	—
Air bags Frontal	1	1	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Apr 1, 2004 · 70,000 milesElectrical system
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
Aug 6, 2008 · 220,578 milesVehicle speed control
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…
Aug 5, 2009Power train
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…
Sep 28, 2007 · 2,540 miles · fireElectrical system
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
Oct 18, 2007 · 185,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
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.
Mar 1, 2007 · 230,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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
Jan 31, 2007 · crashEngine and engine cooling
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
Oct 4, 2006 · 160,000 milesElectrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
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

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.