How many recalls does the 2003 Lexus SC have?

The 2003 Lexus SC has 3 recalls on record from Transport Canada and NHTSA.

What is the most recent recall for the 2003 Lexus SC?

The most recent recall was issued on December 12, 2018 and relates to the air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module system.

Are there any high-risk recalls for the 2003 Lexus SC?

Yes, there are 2 high-risk recalls for the 2003 Lexus SC involving serious safety concerns.

Is the 2003 Lexus SC affected by any Canadian recalls?

There are currently no Transport Canada recalls on record for the 2003 Lexus SC.

Major League Recalls

2003 Lexus SC Recalls — Canada & USA – Major League Recalls

2003 Lexus SC Recalls — Canada & USA

The 2003 Lexus SC has 3 recalls, all centered on the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator, which can rupture in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin, potentially causing serious injury or death.

All three recalls address the same underlying defect in the Takata airbag inflator. One of the filings specifically targets vehicles originally sold or registered in high-humidity regions, including Florida, Gulf Coast states, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and several U.S. territories, where moisture exposure worsens the risk. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue across all affected vehicles, which is why multiple campaigns exist for what is essentially one dangerous component.

What Owners Report

No owner complaints on file for this vehicle year.

Federal Crash Test Ratings

No federal crash test ratings are available for this vehicle year.

All 3 Recalls

Show:

NHTSA (USA)Critical

December 12, 2018

2002–2005 LEXUS SC NHTSA Campaign #18V883000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.

Safety Risk

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.

Other Lexus SC Years

2002 (3)2004 (3)2005 (3)

Other Lexus Models

Is 350 (9)Is 350c (6)Gs 350 (6)NX (6)Is 250 (5)Es350 (5)Is F (5)Gx460 (5)

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NHTSA (USA)Critical

May 13, 2015

2002–2007 LEXUS SC NHTSA Campaign #15V285000

AIR BAGS

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Safety Risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.

1,973,468 vehicles affectedUpdated May 25, 2026

NHTSA (USA)Critical

May 13, 2015

2002–2007 LEXUS SC NHTSA Campaign #15V286000

AIR BAGS

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.

Safety Risk

Remedy

2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.

1,069,055 vehicles affectedMfr ref: 14491Updated May 25, 2026

2003 Lexus SC Recalls — Canada & USA

Summary

What Owners Report

Federal Crash Test Ratings

All 3 Recalls

Defect

Safety Risk

Remedy

Other Lexus SC Years

Other Lexus Models

Defect

Safety Risk

Remedy

Defect

Safety Risk

Remedy