There are 2 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2003 Lexus SCin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While driving home one day four warning lights lit up: VSC, VSC OFF, ABS & BRAKE, plus a very loud warning tone. I cautiously drove home thinking at any moment my brakes may not stop the car in time. I arrived at home & parked in the garage. I needed some time to think what I should do. I decided to move the car out of the garage. I started it up and began to back out, I applied the brakes to slow down but it did not. I quickly used the parking brake to stop it. The driveway is steep so I decided the best place for the car would be back in the garage. Now it just sits there while we figure out what to do with it. I found many others that have had this problem. I am so lucky I wasn't driving on the freeway when this happened. I am sure I would have crashed or crashed into someone else! The brakes should never just go out completely. A disaster waiting to happen.
THE CAR VEERS VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING ON A ROAD THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY SMOOTH. DEPENDING UPON THE UNEVENNESS IN THE ROAD, THE CAR WILL JERK THE STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY EITHER WAY. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR ACTUALLY CHANGE LANES WHEN BRAKING. LEXUS SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL ACTION FOR THIS CAR. IF SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DANGER WHO ARE DRIVING THIS MODEL CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 3300 MILES ON IT. *NLM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026