1996 LEXUS SC400 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
4
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 LEXUS SC400
The 1996 LEXUS SC400 has received a total of 4 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY. The most commonly reported problems involve the Tirestreadbelt (2 complaints), Exterior Lightingbrake Lights (1 complaint), and Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1996 LEXUS SC400
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1996 LEXUS SC400, potentially affecting up to 47,525 vehicles.
Recall 98V016000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
| 47,525 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE TERMINAL FOR THE STARTER MOTOR MAGNETIC SWITCH, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR IF ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE LIQUID, SUCH AS ROAD SPLASH WITH DEICING SALT, ENTERS THIS AREA.
Consequence: A STARTER MOTOR NO-START CONDITION OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE MAGNETIC SWITCH.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 LEXUS SC400
4 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 LEXUS SC400. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirestreadbelt | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingbrake Lights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
ON TWO OCCASIONS JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A SIGNAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD FOR NO REASON, AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THIS MOTION WITH THE BRAKES, SO I QUICKLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING AT 6,000 RPM. AFTER THIS OCCURRED THE SECOND TIME, WHEN PARKING IN THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD CHANGE BY ABOUT 200-300 RPMS ABOUT EVERY 5TH TIME WHEN JUST APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK. A POSSIBLE PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE FACT THAT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR 2/20/06, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR MOUNTED HIGH BRAKE LIGHT LED BUILT INTO THE REAR WING WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THIS BY LOCATING A BROKEN (CUT?) WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE ON 3/20/06, AND FROM THE TIME I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR, (2/20/06) THERE HAD BEEN NO PROBLEM UNTIL 3/21 WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST SHOWED UP. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN JUST THE SAME WAY WAS THE EVENING OF 3/29 WHILE AT A STOP SIGNAL. EACH TIME, I WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT I DID EACH TIME TO SLOW THE ENGINE BACK DOWN. *JB
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER REAR TIRES TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRES TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT. *AK THERE WAS 3/32 TREAD REMAINING ON THE TIRE. THE PLY'S SEPARATED ON THE INSIDE OF BOTH TIRES. THIS PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INSTALLATION OF NEW TIRES. *NM
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH PASSENGERS AND DRIVER REAR TIRES TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRES TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT. *AK PLY SEPARATION OCCURED ON THE INSIDE OF BOTH TIRES. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING THE INSTALLATION OF NEW TIRES. THE TIRE HAD 3/32 TREAD REMAINING. *NM
PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW DOOR TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE, ONLY WOULD OPEN FROM THE INSIDE; CAUSING A OVER $500 REPAIR BECAUSE A SMALL PIECE OF METAL IN THE ASSEMBLY BROKE. LEXUS COULD/WOULD NOT REPLACE JUST THE SMALL METAL PIECE, AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED CAUSING A VERY COSTLY REPAIR; THIS OCCURED IN 2003. IN MAY OF 2004, THE DRIVER'S DOOR THEN FAILED, AND ALSO WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, WOULD ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO CORRECT WITH A $7.00 PART AND A $120 LABOR COST TO REPLACE.*AK
Safety Rating for the 1996 LEXUS SC400
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 LEXUS SC400 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 LEXUS SC400
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 LEXUS SC400
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the LEXUS SC400
- 1992 LEXUS SC400 — 40 complaints
- 1993 LEXUS SC400 — 12 complaints
- 1994 LEXUS SC400 — 3 complaints
- 1995 LEXUS SC400 — 11 complaints
- 1996 LEXUS SC400 (current)
- 1997 LEXUS SC400 — 1 complaint
- 1998 LEXUS SC400 — 2 complaints
- 1999 LEXUS SC400 — 3 complaints
- 2000 LEXUS SC400 — 1 complaint
- 2001 LEXUS SC400 — 1 complaint
Other LEXUS Models
- LEXUS ES350 — 1,531 total complaints
- LEXUS RX — 1,154 total complaints
- LEXUS RX350 — 1,065 total complaints
- LEXUS IS 250 — 938 total complaints
- LEXUS ES300 — 862 total complaints
- LEXUS RX300 — 849 total complaints
- LEXUS ES — 817 total complaints
- LEXUS IS — 765 total complaints