12 of the 40 complaints about the 1992 Lexus SC400 are about the electrical system — 30% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 75,000 miles.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL 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.
NHTSA complaint #10455277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL 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.
NHTSA complaint #10221817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
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
NHTSA complaint #10185911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL 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!
NHTSA complaint #10169971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE 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 THIS PROBLEM NOR IS IT RESTRICTED TO THE LEXUS BRAND OF THE PARENT TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10080462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE 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 ABS SYSTEM. THE REAR PADS WERE REPLACED AT 15000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10074381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY LEXUS SC400 1992 HAS A CRACKED CENTER AC VENT, BAD CD CHANGER AND ALMOST ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS ARE BURNED OUT. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR ON ALMOST EVERY SC400 IN THE EARLY MODEL YEARS AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE DUE TO DESIGN FAULTS BY THE LEXUS COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10014286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP AND YOU CANNOT TELL THE SPEED OF YOUR VEHICLE. LEXUS MADE THE REPLACEMENT PART RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT SELLS FOR AROUND $1000. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA complaint #10013807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLAMP 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.
NHTSA complaint #10002784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING DASH GAUGE NEEDLES FOR ALL GAUGES DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE SPEED/ GAS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AN DVEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #8003265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
GAUGE NEEDLES BURNE DOUT. REPLACED GAUGE CLUSTER.
NHTSA complaint #719237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE THE BATTERY EXPLODED, CAUSING THE ACID TO GET OVER THE WHOLE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #836609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.