Lexus SC430
Registered from 2001 to 2014.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2002 4.3 petrol. 87 of 447 tests failed, 19%.
Better than 90% of 2002 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 558 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 31% | 27 |
| Brakes | 30% | 26 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 30% | 26 |
| Tyres and wheels | 26% | 23 |
| Lights and electrics | 24% | 21 |
| Body and structure | 16% | 14 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Warning device shows system malfunction
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Where it stands out against its peers
- Tyres and wheels: failed more often than 92% of 2002 cars — 26% of its 87 failed tests, where an ordinary 2002 car has 12%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 31% of its failures
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- Brakes — 30% of its failures
- Exhaust and emissions — 30% of its failures
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Tyres and wheels — 26% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Lights and electrics — 24% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 16% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 22% of its inspections, against the 30% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–60k miles | 9% | 22% | 46 | |
| 60–80k miles | 15% | 25% | 78 | |
| 80–100k miles | 17% | 27% | 105 | |
| 100–120k miles | 24% | 28% | 78 | |
| 120–140k miles | 26% | 29% | 65 | |
| 140–160k miles | 22% | 30% | 32 |
404 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00376/20
The gas generator of the passenger airbag may be defective.This may result in uncontrolled inflation and release of metal fragments when the airbag is activated, causing injuries to the occupants.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0660/15
The front passenger airbag inflators may have been assembled with defective propellant wafers. This could cause the inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1334/19
The ammonium nitrate propellant used in the airbag inflator may degrade over time due to propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high-temperature cycling. In the event of an airbag being deployed, the excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to rupture and metal fragments may pass through the cushion material causing injury to the occupants.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1740/18
The ammonium nitrate propellant used in the air bag inflator may degrade over time due to heat cycles and exposure to moisture. In the event of the airbag being deployed, the excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to rupture and metal fragments may pass through the cushion material causing injury to the rider.
Recall of the product from end users