- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A starter motor no-start condition or an underhood fire can result.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE MAGNETIC SWITCH.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Lexus SC400 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 1996 Lexus SC400 with NHTSA, most often about the wheels & tires (2) and the lights (1). It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in January 1998 for the starter assembly. For comparison, the 1995 has 9 and the 1997 has 1.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical SC400 year, for its age
#202 most complained-about 1996 vehicle
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1996 Lexus SC400 problems
Share of all 4 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1996 Lexus SC400 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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4 complaints about the 1996 Lexus SC400
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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...
Read the full complaint
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 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
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
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
Lexus SC400: every year compared
All SC400 years1996 Lexus SC400 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Lexus SC400 | 4 | 1 | D | |
| 1996 Lexus ES300 | 40 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 1996 Lexus LS400 | 19 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Lexus LX450 | 6 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Lexus GS300 | 5 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Lexus ES250 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1996 Lexus LS | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1996 Lexus SC400
Does the 1996 Lexus SC400 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1996 Lexus SC400: starter assembly (January 1998). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Lexus SC400?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the wheels & tires (2), lights (1), body, doors & structure (1).
How many complaints has the 1996 Lexus SC400 had?
4 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on May 18, 2004 and the latest on March 31, 2006. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1996 Lexus SC400 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 30 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Lexus SC400 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Lexus SC400 years have the most complaints?
1992 (30), 1993 (9), 1995 (9). See every Lexus SC400 year compared.
What should I do if my 1996 Lexus SC400 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data