2003 Lexus SC Complaint Log

While driving home one day four warning lights lit up: VSC, VSC OFF, ABS & BRAKE, plus a very loud warning tone. I cautiously drove home thinking at any moment my brakes may not stop the car in time. I arrived at home & parked in the garage. I needed some time to think what I should do. I decided to move the car out of the garage. I started it up and began to back out, I applied the brakes to slow down but it did not. I quickly used the parking brake to stop it. The driveway is steep so I decided the best place for the car would be back in the garage. Now it just sits there while we figure out what to do with it. I found many others that have had this problem. I am so lucky I wasn't driving on the freeway when this happened. I am sure I would have crashed or crashed into someone else! The brakes should never just go out completely. A disaster waiting to happen.

DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS IN ASHEVILLE AFTER MAKING APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED IN-STATE.

RECEIVED 3 LETTERS ON RECALL #K6FV-AAE. CALLED TAKATA, LEXUS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, AND THE CLOSEST LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN SANTA BARBARA. NOBODY IS FOLLOWING UP. I AM RUNNING A BUSINESS AND CAN ONLY TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN ON SATURDAY AND WILL LOSE AN ENTIRE DAY. NOBODY IS HELPING TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION OR EVEN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LEXUS FOR MY OUT OF TOWN TRIP. NOT HONORING THE RECALL. REQUESTING THAT LEXUS BUY BACK THE DEFECTIVE CAR FOR $15000 AND THEY CAN FIX IT WHENEVER THEY GET AROUND TO IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. FOX LEXUS OF EL PASO (11165 GATEWAY BLVD W, EL PASO, TX 79935, 915-598-0399) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TAKATA RECALL - WHEN I CHECKED UNDER LEXUS TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE WAS LISTED IT WAS BUT WHEN I PUT IN THE VIN NUMBER IT SAID O - SO I'M CONFUSED WHY WOULD IT SAY YES UNDER LEXUS BUT NOT UNDER THE VIN NUMBER ? IS IT SAFE ?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THEN SHUT OFF, AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THAT THE NONE OF THE WINDOWS WOULD CLOSE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR AIR BAG RECALL TO BE REPAIRED. THE LEXUS DEALER HELD THE CAR FOR FOUR DAYS BEFORE REALIZING THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO MAKE THE REPAIR. WE WERE TOLD TO PICK UP THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT TELL US WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE RECALL DEFECT. THE NOTICE SAYS NOT TO OPERATE THE CAR WITH A PASSENGER UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 12/30/14*LJ THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UPDATED 9/25/2015*JS

NO INCIDENT, JUST GENERAL COMPLAINT / CONCERN - I AM TOLD TO EXPECT UP TO 60 DAYS FOR PART RECEIPT TO FIX MY VEHICLE. BUT IT IS CLEARLY STATED IN THE BY RECALL NOTICE NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITH PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. QUESTION: IS THERE A RECOURSE SINCE I WILL BE UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE FOR 60 DAYS OR MORE, AND CANNOT GET THE PART NEEDED TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR THE PASSENGER? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V3500000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V655000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART 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.

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS SC430. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V350000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 09/16/14*LJ UPDATED 1/13/15*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED BY LEXUS OF TAMPA BAY ON 8/18/2014. UPDATED 1/13/2015 *JS

2003 LEXUS SC430. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE PROCEEDED TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, SHE THEN PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, IT THEN ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. FINALLY AFTER HITTING A POLE, IT JUMPED THE CURB AND ENDED ON A BUSY STREET. THE DEALERSHIP SENT SOMEONE OUT TO EXPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS PROVIDED A DISC THAT SHOWED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED, BUT THEY WOULD NOT SAY THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WHEEL LOCKING AND THE BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONING.

WE RECEIVED AN INTERIM NOTICE REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THAT TOYOTA IS WORKING ON A REMEDY. SINCE THIS SITUATION COULD OCCUR BEFORE THE REMEDY IS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED I REQUEST THAT NHTSA REQUIRE TOYOTA PROVIDE INTERIM RELIEF IN THE FORM OF DEACTIVATING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT A PERMANENT FIX IS IMPLEMENTED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS IS AN ISSUE INVOLVING THE APPARENT FAILURE OF THREE OUT OF FOUR GOODYEAR ASYMMETRIC TIRES. FIRST ISSUE WAS A BUBBLE FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LET LOOSE A THIN VERY LONG RIBBON OF RUBBER FROM THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TREAD. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LEFT REAR INNER SIDEWALL BLEW OUT IN TWO PLACES LIKE A BURSTING BUBBLE. THESE TIRES HAVE THE SAME DATE CODE AND WERE PUT ON THE CAR AT THE SAME TIME APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF PRIOR TO THE FIRST FAILURE. THE TIRE WITH THE DELAMINATED RUBBER RIBBON WAS REPLACED AT THE TIME AT MY COST BEFORE I REALIZED THERE WAS A PATTERN HERE. I HAVE CONTACTED GOODYEAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME OR REPLACE THAT ONE OR THE OTHER DEFECTIVE TIRES. ALL OLD TIRES ARE AVAILABLE AND IN MY POSSESSION. THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR ALL THREE TIRES...SAME DOT NUMBER SAME DATE CODE... *TR

THE TPM LIGHT TURNED ON. I HAVE ADJUSTED TIRE PRESSURE, HAD THE DEALER ADJUST TIRE PRESSURE AND HAD AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER ADJUST THE TIRE PRESSURE. THIS WAS DONE ACCORDING TO SPECS. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE TPM LIGHT IS ON AND HAS NOT OFFERED A REMEDY. *KB

I AM FORMALLY FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST A VEH 2003 LEXUS SC430. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS VEH HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DATED APRIL 3, 2010 AT ABOUT 2AM. AFTER THE COLLISION, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TIRE WAS OUT AT THE LEFT BOTTOM AREA OF THE CAR. I WAS TURNING ON A PARKING LOT (180 DEGS) TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH, THE WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. IT ACCELERATED INTO PARKED VEHICLES IN FRONT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I TOOK PICS OF THE VEHICLE AT AN IMPOUND AND I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL STEERING ARM AND LOWER SUSPENSION WAS CUT OFF FROM ITS STEM. THE KNUCKLE STEERING WAS PULLED OFF FROM THE TIE ROD. THE LF WHEEL WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL SHROUD AND BRAKES AND THE LUG NUTS WERE INTACT BUT IT WAS OUT UNDER THE VEHICLE. IMPACT WAS AT THE RIGHT FT AND RIGHT FENDER BUT THE LEFT WHEEL WAS CUT OFF AT THE STEM OF THE SUSPENSION ARM AND STEERING ARM. I LOOKED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, I NOTICED EXCAVATED MARKINGS BEFORE THE IMPACT PROVING THAT METAL WAS SCRAPING ON THE ASPHALT ROAD BEFORE THE IMPACT. THERE WERE SIGNS OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE ABOUT 15-20 FEET BEFORE IMPACT. I HAVE PIC AND VIDEO TO PROVE SUCH CLAIM (SUCH AS NO SIGNS OF DENT INSIDE THE INNER HOUSING OF THE LFT WHEEL, BRACKETS WERE INTACT, SUSPENSION WERE INTACT, BRAKE SHROUD WERE INTACT, LOWER SUSPENSION AND STEERING ARM WAS CUT OFF AT THE STEM). I CALLED YOUR OFFICE ON APRIL 9 NO VERBALLY REPORT THIS COMPLAINT, BUT YOUR OFFICE REFERRED ME TO LEXUS. LEXUS HAS BEEN INFORMED AT 1-800-255-3987 (OPTION 4 COMPLAINT # PETER REONISTO) AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO BRING THE CAR FROM THE IMPOUND INTO THEIR VAN NUYS DEALER OFFICE. THEY HAVE PROMISED TO DO SO ON APRIL 14, 2010 BUT HAVE NOT YET ACTED ON THIS COMPLAINED. I REFERRED THIS INCIDENT WITH SAFETY RESEARCH AND STRATEGIES TOGETHER WITH PIC AND THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT NHTSA SHOULD BE PRIMARY IN THE INVESTIGATION. I FEEL THAT THERE IS VALID INVESTIGATION DONE [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH 2003 LEXUS SC430. *KB ***NAR*** WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH EITHER THE BRAKES OR STEERING. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE TIRES BUT OFFERED NO INFORMATION ON WHERE TO PURCHASE THEM.

2003 LEXUS SC430 HAS PROBLEMS WITH RUN FLAT TIRES AND RIMS. THE RIMS ARE BENT AND DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS RUNOUT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE DRIVING. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THREE DEALERS, LEXUS OF GRAPEVINE WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, LEXUS OF SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER AND PARKE LEXUS OF LITTLE ROCK. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE LEXUS DISPUTE SETTLEMENT CTR. *JB

THE CAR FAILED TO START SIX TIMES IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS. IT SEEMS THEY HAVE FOUND THE CAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUES TO MAKE CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER IT GOES OVER A BUMP. LEXUS TELLS ME THAT IS NORMAL. I SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE A 1973 DODGE I OWNED 30 YEARS AGO. THE CAR ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. AGAIN I'M TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND IS A RESULT OF THE RUN FLAT TIRES. IF SO, THEY SHOULD USE OTHER TIRES. PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THIS CAR BE REPLACED REPEATEDLY. LEXUS HAS REFUSED.

THE CAR VEERS VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING ON A ROAD THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY SMOOTH. DEPENDING UPON THE UNEVENNESS IN THE ROAD, THE CAR WILL JERK THE STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY EITHER WAY. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR ACTUALLY CHANGE LANES WHEN BRAKING. LEXUS SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL ACTION FOR THIS CAR. IF SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DANGER WHO ARE DRIVING THIS MODEL CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 3300 MILES ON IT. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH CAR CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.*AK

WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT STEERING WHEEL JERKS HARD TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN BRAKING, OCCASIONALLY CHANGING TO ANOTHER LANE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *SC