Tl* the contact owns a 2002 lexus sc. While driving 35 mph, an abnormal noise was heard when the steering wheel was turned. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Also, when driving over a bump in the road, the front suspension pulled to the right. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000. *Dt consumer requested issue be removed from your database.*Jb
Suspension
Lexus SC430 Suspension problems by year
9 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Lexus SC430's suspension. Broken springs, struts, control arms, ball joints, noises and alignment that won't hold.
Suspension complaints by model year
Latest SC430 suspension complaints
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.
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...
Read the full complaint
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 [[redacted]]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
Left ball joint failure. Sheared off causing loss off vehicle control. Finally stopped just feet from going over the edge of a drop off. Damage to left side front end components, left front fender and both front tires destroyed. *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
I own a 2002 lexus sc430 which has bridgestone potenza runflat tires on it. I put on a new set of tires 1 year ago and 17,000 miles late, the vehicle is all over the road, tires wear excessively on the insides, and I've had it aligned about 3 times in that 1 year. A friend of mine had the same vehicle and he had to get rid of it for the same problem. The tires become very noisy and it sounds like all the wheel bearings are bad. The local dealership is trying to tell me that this high performance tire only lasts...
Read the full complaint
10,000 miles, but when I brought the car to an alignment expert at another repair shop, he stated that is is definitely an alignment problem with the car and that there was plenty of tread life left on the rest of the tires. Upon further researching this on the http://lexusownersclub.Com, I found out that many of the sc430 owners are experiencing the same tire wear/steering problem and that the car was built with a negative camber and that puts more wear on the tires. Please look into this widespread problem as it does greatly affect the steering and safety of the vehicle. We are unable to drive it on the open highway for this problem and the lexus company is blaming the problem on the potenza tires. Thanking you in advance for your timely assistance on this. *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.
I just can confirm all the other complaints about the sc430s handling. Dangerous - especially on rough roads. Car tends to follow any kind of road abnormally. I complained at lexus from the first day (over two years now). Replaced run flats, still not able to handle the car. Seems to be a suspension related problem. Lexus thinks this is normal- ha ha - $70000 piece of shi.. I'm totally upset about reaction from lexus dealer and customer support. *Jb
When the vehicle hit any kind of variance in the road the steering wheel would pull either right or left. Nlm *tt *jb
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data