FaultScore report
Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2005 Lexus SC430 with NHTSA between 2009 and 2021. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 4 worst.
FaultScore 45/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Lexus SC430.
How this is worked out11
Complaints
5
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
58,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
14%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 73,000 miles
2 crashes, 0 fires · median 39,786 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 58,000 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 58,000 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 58,000 mi
Median failure at 75,000 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
| Configuration | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Lexus SC430 Convertible w/SAB | — | — | — | — |
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
WHEELS
AUTO WAS PARKED IN LOT, IGNITION OFF "IN PARK". STARTED AUTO, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND AUTO ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY, UNCONTROLLED, DOWN ONE CURB, UP ANOTHER CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED IN GRASSY AREA HAVING GONE ABOUT 150 FEET.
NHTSA complaint #10722476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
AUTO WAS PARKED IN LOT, IGNITION OFF "IN PARK". STARTED AUTO, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND AUTO ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY, UNCONTROLLED, DOWN ONE CURB, UP ANOTHER CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED IN GRASSY AREA HAVING GONE ABOUT 150 FEET.
NHTSA complaint #10722476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
AUTO WAS PARKED IN LOT, IGNITION OFF "IN PARK". STARTED AUTO, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND AUTO ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY, UNCONTROLLED, DOWN ONE CURB, UP ANOTHER CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED IN GRASSY AREA HAVING GONE ABOUT 150 FEET.
NHTSA complaint #10722476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD UNTIL CRASHING INTO A LIGHT POST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. SHE HIT THE GARAGE DOOR AND ADJACENT BRICK WALL. AT THAT POINT, THE GEAR SHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS OUT OF THE GARAGE, MADE A U-TURN, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE WITH THE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE THEN STOPPED AND THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. UPDATED 02/28/12
NHTSA complaint #10434796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, AND MOVED HER FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE ON HER LEXUS SC430. THE DRIVEWAY HAS A DOWNHILL STRETCH OF ABOUT 40 FEET WITH A LEFT TURN REQUIRED AT THE BOTTOM TO ENTER THE GARAGE. INSTEAD OF SLOWING, THE CAR TOOK OFF, WITH THE ENGINE RACING, AND CATAPULTED HER OVER THE EDGE OF THE DRIVEWAY DOWN INTO A RAVINE. SHE SUFFERED A SEVERE INJURY TO HER BACK, AND IS CURRENTLY IN GREAT PAIN. I BELIEVE HER STORY, AS I HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH THE SAME CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, EXCEPT I WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE FORWARD MOTION OF THE CAR BY A VERY HARD APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10293330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
AIR BAGS
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2005 Lexus SC430. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) and drove 5 hours to the only Lexus dealer in the State of Maine. The dealer informed the contact that they would need to repair the vehicle clockspring to clear the air bag warning light prior to completing the recall repair. The contact declined and the dealer refused to complete the recall repair. The contact drove back to his residence. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the dealer should have completed the recall repair. The manufacturer advised the contact that they would assist with towing the vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11443751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10789211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
2005 LEXUS SC430. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE AIRBAG INFLATOR MODULE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD
NHTSA complaint #10806923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PART FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10760071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10749444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
AUTO WAS PARKED IN LOT, IGNITION OFF "IN PARK". STARTED AUTO, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND AUTO ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY, UNCONTROLLED, DOWN ONE CURB, UP ANOTHER CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED IN GRASSY AREA HAVING GONE ABOUT 150 FEET.
NHTSA complaint #10722476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
AUTO WAS PARKED IN LOT, IGNITION OFF "IN PARK". STARTED AUTO, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND AUTO ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY, UNCONTROLLED, DOWN ONE CURB, UP ANOTHER CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED IN GRASSY AREA HAVING GONE ABOUT 150 FEET.
NHTSA complaint #10722476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
AUTO WAS PARKED IN LOT, IGNITION OFF "IN PARK". STARTED AUTO, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND AUTO ACCELERATED VERY RAPIDLY, UNCONTROLLED, DOWN ONE CURB, UP ANOTHER CURB AND FINALLY STOPPED IN GRASSY AREA HAVING GONE ABOUT 150 FEET.
NHTSA complaint #10722476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10459759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD UNTIL CRASHING INTO A LIGHT POST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. SHE HIT THE GARAGE DOOR AND ADJACENT BRICK WALL. AT THAT POINT, THE GEAR SHIFT WENT INTO REVERSE, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS OUT OF THE GARAGE, MADE A U-TURN, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE WITH THE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE THEN STOPPED AND THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. UPDATED 02/28/12
NHTSA complaint #10434796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, AND MOVED HER FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE ON HER LEXUS SC430. THE DRIVEWAY HAS A DOWNHILL STRETCH OF ABOUT 40 FEET WITH A LEFT TURN REQUIRED AT THE BOTTOM TO ENTER THE GARAGE. INSTEAD OF SLOWING, THE CAR TOOK OFF, WITH THE ENGINE RACING, AND CATAPULTED HER OVER THE EDGE OF THE DRIVEWAY DOWN INTO A RAVINE. SHE SUFFERED A SEVERE INJURY TO HER BACK, AND IS CURRENTLY IN GREAT PAIN. I BELIEVE HER STORY, AS I HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH THE SAME CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, EXCEPT I WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE FORWARD MOTION OF THE CAR BY A VERY HARD APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10293330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.