2002 Lexus SC430 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2002 Lexus SC430, and owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2002 Lexus SC430
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.…
42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Lexus SC430 have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 61,829 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 11 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Getting totally jerked around they call and never follow up. This has been going on for years. Not able to drive the car for years now.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 8, 2019 · Air bags
“There is condensation in the head lamps which affects how well they work at night. The car has not been modified or had any type of injury that would result in condensation being inside the headlight”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 6, 2018 · Exterior lighting
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Lexus SC (SC 300/SC 430). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16 / 21 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 4.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Lexus SC430 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lexus SC430 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 42 |
| 2003 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 20 |
| 2004 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 6 |
| 2005 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 9 |
| 2006 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 6 |
| 2007 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 17 |
| 2008 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 4 |
| 2009 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 Lexus SC430 | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2002 Lexus SC430
How do I know if my 2002 Lexus SC430 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2002 Lexus SC430; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lexus dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 19V741000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Lexus models
- ES3501,365 complaints
- RX957 complaints
- RX350808 complaints
- RX300722 complaints
- IS 250719 complaints
- ES300681 complaints
- ES668 complaints
- IS596 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.