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Lexus SC430Model year report

2004 Lexus SC430 Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
47,500miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.3L 8-cyl RWD · 16 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Lexus SC430 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2004 Lexus SC430. The part named most often is air bags, with 6 complaints (50% of the total), followed by equipment (2) and tires (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 47,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 70 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Equipment complaints overlap with 28 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “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?”

NHTSA complaint #10781456, filed 2015-10

Equipment: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11519156, filed 2023-04, 159,000 miles

Tires: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10136173, filed 2005-09, 48 miles

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10291214, filed 2009-11, 60,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 35,000 and 60,000 miles.

25%0–100%10–2525%25–5025%50–750%75–1000%100–15025%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 47,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20052006200820092015420162023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2004 Lexus SC430 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
SC 430 RWD4.3L 8-cyl5-speed automatic162218$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2004 Lexus SC430 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 70 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 70 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus SC430

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200717—1—19—Stable
2006624,5001—19—Not enough data
2005958,0001—18—Not enough data
20041247,5001—18—Not enough data
20032039,0001———Falling
20024261,5621——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Lexus SC430 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Lexus SC430 have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2004 Lexus SC430 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Lexus SC430 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 6 complaints (50% of the total), followed by equipment with 2.

Has the 2004 Lexus SC430 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Lexus SC430 get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Lexus SC430 (SC 430, 4.3L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Lexus SC430 reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 47,500 miles and the middle half falls between 35,000 and 60,000 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.