1990 Lexus SC400: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
1995: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 958732 · 1995-01-17 (January 17, 1995)
WINDSHIELD HAS SPOTS ALL OVER, ALL ASPECTS OF WINDSHIELD SHOW VERY FINE SMALL FLASHES, BEST SEEN IN SUNLIGHT/ONCOMING LIGHTS AS YELLOW/SILVER REFLECTIONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958732 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1990 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 413.3%ODI 10089705VEHICLE 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 | 222.2%ODI 834900VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED WHILE CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10382740 · 100,000 miTL*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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 516.7%ODI 10002784 · 73,000 miHEADLAMP LENS FOG UP, REDUCING ILLUMINATION DRAMATICALLY AND CAUSING A SAFTEY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAVE NOTED MUCH NEWER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTUER'S DEFECT AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE PREMATURE: SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE LIGHT FAILURE, CD CHANGER FAILURE, AND CRACKED DASH AIR VENT FRAMES. | 222.2%ODI 10105580 · 142,000 miCONDENSATION DEVELOPED OVER THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING . *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 620.0%ODI 10002784 · 73,000 miHEADLAMP LENS FOG UP, REDUCING ILLUMINATION DRAMATICALLY AND CAUSING A SAFTEY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAVE NOTED MUCH NEWER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTUER'S DEFECT AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE PREMATURE: SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE LIGHT FAILURE, CD CHANGER FAILURE, AND CRACKED DASH AIR VENT FRAMES. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 310.0%ODI 10074381 · 75,000 miTHE 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… | 111.1%ODI 10184344 · 112,000 miTL* 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10101601 · 109,183 miWHILE DRIVING,THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED WITH OUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 310.0%ODI 10080462 · 75,000 miTHE 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… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10152526 · 128,000 mi(1) THE PROBLEM IS ON THE 1995 LEXUS, SC400. (2) THE NEEDLES IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GET BLACKENED OUT; THEREFORE, I TOTALLY CAN'T SEE THE SPEED THAT I WAS GOING. THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CAN GO FASTER THAN THE SAFETY LIMIT WITHOUT KNOWING IT. ALSO, THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS NEEDLES GET DARKENED AND DON'T SHOW THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE CAR SUCH AS THE TEMPERATURE, FUEL, AND RPM. (3) THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN MANY LEXUS SC300, SC400, LS400 FROM THE YEAR OF 1992 TO 2000. I CAN PROVE IT'S THE COMMON SAFETY FAILURE FOR THESE CARS WITH YO… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Tires | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 10000711TIRES: PIRELLI MODEL P6000; A FEW MONTHS AGO, ONE OF THE TIRES SPLIT ON THE INSIDE CAUSING A FLAT. RECENTLY, ANOTHER TIRE OF THE SAME SET DID THE SAME THING. THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE RETAILER IS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 737908TIRES ON NEW VEHICLE CANNOT BE USED FOR WINTER DRIVING WITHOUT PLACING DRIVER'S SAFETY AT RISK. NO DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER AT TIME OF PURCHASE. OWNERS IN COLD WEATHER STATES STRANDED, RUNNING INTO DITCHES, OR HAVING NEAR ACCIDENTS. LEXUS WILL NOT REPLACE UNSAFE TIRES, BUT WILL SELL OWNERS NEW WINTER/ALL SEASON TIRES TO PLACE ON VEHICLE. DRIVER SAFETY IS AT RISK. (TIRESIZE: 215/45ZR17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/45ZR17 ) |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 310.0%ODI 10002784 · 73,000 miHEADLAMP LENS FOG UP, REDUCING ILLUMINATION DRAMATICALLY AND CAUSING A SAFTEY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAVE NOTED MUCH NEWER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTUER'S DEFECT AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE PREMATURE: SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE LIGHT FAILURE, CD CHANGER FAILURE, AND CRACKED DASH AIR VENT FRAMES. | 111.1%ODI 714934THE ILLUMINATION FOR THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASH HAS FAILED. VEHICLE SPEED IS NOT KNOWN. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 11256446TL* 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 DE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10101601 · 109,183 miWHILE DRIVING,THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED WITH OUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11033180 · 105,000 miTWO WEEKS AGO A RED WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH SHOWING AN AIR BAG DEFICIENCY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF WAYZATA FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REMOVAL OF THE WARNING LIGHT. I LATER RECALLED THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED DUE TO A POOR CONNECTION ABOUT THE TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT WAS FIXED BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON. LEXUS WANTED OVER $1600 TO OBTAIN A NEW AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE INCLUDING LABOR COSTS, BROKEN DOWN INTO PARTS COST $1150 AND LABOR $470. I FURNISHED THE USED SENSOR ON THE INTERNET FOR $95 AND THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED. SAVED OVER $1000 … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2000: 1 complaints · 2001: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Visibility:Windshield |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.