- The problem
- 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 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- 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. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Lexus SC430 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2004 Lexus SC430 with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (8) and the equipment & accessories (2). Those complaints describe 2 crashes and 2 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in October 2019 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 2003 has 25 and the 2005 has 12.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical SC430 year, for its age
#209 most complained-about 2004 vehicle
- Complaints
- 14
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 2
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2004 Lexus SC430 problems
Share of all 14 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2004 Lexus SC430 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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14 complaints about the 2004 Lexus SC430
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The contact owns a 2004 Lexus SC430. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the radio was activated and there was an abnormal sound coming from the antenna. The contact noticed the antenna hanging off the holster and structuring the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 159,000.
This car has been wrecked, due to the airbag, and the title was handed over to the insurance company and they issued us a check for settlement. The car was considered a total loss. We no longer own this car; however, we keep getting 3 or 4 postcards every month notifying us of the recall. I have made countless phone calls to get our names removed from the recall mailing list, to no avail. It is emotionally distressing to me to see these postcards arriving, reminding me of the auto accident that almost claimed...
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my husband's life. Our recall i.D. Number is kb8-42s. Would someone please remove us from the mailing list. The accident occured on 7/18/2018 and the airbag exploded, causing him to hit a tree head on. He was airlifted to a trauma center and spent over a week in intensive care, followed by several surgeries and follow up hospital stays. Please, someone, remove us the list.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Parts are on back order and dealer requires that I bring in the car to "link" it to the back order and then they will schedule an appointment... This is unacceptable. They have my vin; why should I have to physically drive far out of my way to schedule an appointment?
Parts not availabe to resolve recall to whom it concerns: please allow me to express my fustration at trying to remedy a safety netice recall for a passenger airbag inflater for my 2004 lexus sc430. On 8/12/2015 I made a appointment at wilkie lexus of havertown. My appointment confirmation is below : while courteous, the service manage indicated that he did not have the parts and they are back ordered by at least two weeks. Even though I made my appointment 8/12 (weeks ago) indicating "front passenger...
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airbag inflated module" as the reason for the service visit. Confirmation code: x0258rn6ej date and time: 08/27/2015 09:00 am vehicle: 2004 lexus sc 430 further, the service manager did not provide a future appointment or offer to contact me when the parts were available. If the service recall is a serious as indicated by the recall notice, the parts should have been available for the appointment, or if the parts were not available I should have been rescheduled for a future appointment. I feel as this is a serious issue, however not having the parts for a recall is reflective of the service center and lexus not taking the recall notice seriously and thus placing my family at risk. Please advise that I will be forwarding this complaint the the national highway trafic safety administration as is indicated the recall notice.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 lexus sc430. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v285000 (air bags) and stated that the parts needed for the recall repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 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.
Lexus sc 430 2004 sometimes when braking the car would accelerate thought maybe I had accidentally hit pedal or something but happened several times. Didn't think muchof it until notice the recall no incident dates but filled out form anyway. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 lexus sc430. The contact stated that the vehicle has mold growing across the climate exchange. He smells mildew coming from the air condition duct and some doctors stated that he was terminally ill. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, but they could not find the failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer for three months and they cleaned and installed a new air condition unit. The contact became allergic to the antifreeze that was being installed. The failure mileage was 35,000.
I have an lexus sc430 2004 with 40k miles on it. I have repeatedly put new tires on the car. The dealership is telling me, that's the way the tires are going to wear because its a so call sports car. The tires is wearing down to the wire on the inside of all the tires about every 7,000-8,000 miles. It's not safe and it's $356 a tire. *Tr
Consumer complaint concerning the 2004 sc430 welded firewall. *Ts the consumer explained to the dealer that the vehicle pulled to the right while driven. This problem has not been resolved by the dealer. At the 10000 mile checkup the body was welded at the left firewall and the left side bumper was then properly attached. The consumer feels that the vehicle was sold in an unsafe condition. *Nm
Dt: on march 7, 2005 the caller was traveling at 75 mph and without warning a tire separated from the rim about 2 inches. He said it happened again on september 10, 2005. He was going about 70 mph. It happened both times to the driver's side. Dealer asked, the first time, if he hit something and they fixed it by giving him a new rim and tire. Dealer has vehicle now for the second time. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet.*Ak
Consumer's vehicle was traveling about 40 mph when all of sudden it rear ended another vehicle in front. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. *Ak
Lexus SC430: every year compared
All SC430 years2004 Lexus SC430 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Lexus SC430 | 14 | 1 | C | |
| 2004 Lexus RX330 | 327 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Lexus ES330 | 190 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Lexus GX470 | 85 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Lexus LS430 | 36 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2004 Lexus IS300 | 29 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2004 Lexus IS300 Sportcross | 29 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2004 Lexus LX470 | 18 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Lexus GS300 | 8 | 0 | B | 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 2004 Lexus SC430
Does the 2004 Lexus SC430 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2004 Lexus SC430: inflator module (October 2019). 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 2004 Lexus SC430?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (8), equipment & accessories (2), wheels & tires (2).
How many complaints has the 2004 Lexus SC430 had?
14 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on April 27, 2005 and the latest on April 26, 2023. Of these, 2 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2004 Lexus SC430 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 43 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Lexus SC430 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 SC430 years have the most complaints?
2002 (52), 2003 (25), 2007 (18). See every Lexus SC430 year compared.
What should I do if my 2004 Lexus SC430 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