- 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
2005 Lexus SC430 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2005 Lexus SC430 with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (6) and the acceleration & cruise control (3). Those complaints describe 4 crashes and 2 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in October 2019 for the inflator module. For comparison, the 2004 has 14 and the 2006 has 7.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical SC430 year, for its age
#216 most complained-about 2005 vehicle
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2005 Lexus SC430 problems
Share of all 12 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2005 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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12 complaints about the 2005 Lexus SC430
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2005 Lexus SC430. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) and drove 5 hours to the only Lexus dealer in the State of Maine. The dealer informed the contact that they would need to repair the vehicle clockspring to clear the air bag warning light prior to completing the recall repair. The contact declined and the dealer refused to complete the recall repair. The contact drove back to his residence. The contact stated that the...
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manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the dealer should have completed the recall repair. The manufacturer advised the contact that they would assist with towing the vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 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.
2005 Lexus sc430. Consumer writes in regards to replacement parts not available to complete airbag inflator module recall notice. *Smd
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lexus sc430. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v285000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the part for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lexus sc430. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v285000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable timeframe to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure.
Auto was parked in lot, ignition off "in park". Started auto, put gear in reverse and auto accelerated very rapidly, uncontrolled, down one curb, up another curb and finally stopped in grassy area having gone about 150 feet.
My brakes failed completely. Is there a recall on this car. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lexus sc430. The contact stated that the vehicle was stopped and she was applying the brakes when it surged forward abnormally. The vehicle continued to surge forward until crashing into a light post. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 01/10/12*lj the consumer stated as she was attempting to park, the vehicle accelerated on its own. She hit the garage door and...
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adjacent brick wall. At that point, the gear shift went into reverse, and continued to accelerate in reverse. The vehicle went backwards out of the garage, made a u-turn, and hit a light pole with the rear bumper. The vehicle then stopped and the consumer was able to shift the vehicle into park. Updated 02/28/12
My wife was pulling into our driveway, and moved her foot from accelerator to brake on her lexus sc430. The driveway has a downhill stretch of about 40 feet with a left turn required at the bottom to enter the garage. Instead of slowing, the car took off, with the engine racing, and catapulted her over the edge of the driveway down into a ravine. She suffered a severe injury to her back, and is currently in great pain. I believe her story, as I had a similar incident with the same car about 4 months ago, except I was able to overcome the forward motion of the car by a very hard application of the brake. *Tr
I am an owner of a lexus sc-430, 2005 model with 15428 miles on the odometer.The car recently underwent a 15,000 mile service. On arriving home at 1:30 pm I stopped the v car in front of the garage and the door was closed. I was about to reach for the garage door opener button in the car whe it suddenly and spontaneously accelerated full throttle , without foot on the accelerator. I applied the brakes but to no effect. The car drove through the metal garage door and stopped when it hit the back of...
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the garage wall. The fire department was summoned to open the door on my side . I was driven to the hospital by paramedics but suffered only minor injuries , sustaining cuts from the windshield and injuries from the deployment of the airbag. The car had a 50-50 chance of being declared a total write off.*Ak I have requested my insurance company (mercury insurance) to have the car examined forensically in order to try to determine the cause of the malfunction. As yet I do not know whether they have acted or intend to act upon my request. I am a carerful driver and have not had an accident or a moving traffic violation since 1974.
Consumer complaint regarding excessive wear on brake pads and the inside of all four tires. *Ts the audio system would switch from cd to radio intermittently while driving. The navigation system would go blank at times. There was a crackling sound coming from the right rear speaker. *Jb
Lexus SC430: every year compared
All SC430 years2005 Lexus SC430 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Lexus SC430 | 12 | 1 | C | |
| 2005 Lexus ES330 | 201 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 2005 Lexus RX330 | 192 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2005 Lexus GX470 | 33 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2005 Lexus RX400H | 29 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2005 Lexus LS430 | 26 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2005 Lexus IS300 Sportcross | 16 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2005 Lexus IS300 | 16 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2005 Lexus LX470 | 9 | 3 | C | 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 2005 Lexus SC430
Does the 2005 Lexus SC430 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2005 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 2005 Lexus SC430?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (6), acceleration & cruise control (3), wheels & tires (2).
How many complaints has the 2005 Lexus SC430 had?
12 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 6, 2005 and the latest on December 14, 2021. Of these, 4 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2005 Lexus SC430 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 41 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 2005 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