Vehicle recall 98V016000 · January 27, 1998
Lexus LS400 and SC400
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to improper assembly of the terminal for the starter motor magnetic switch, an electrical short circuit can occur if electrically-conductive liquid, such as road splash with deicing salt, enters this area.
- Consequence
- A starter motor no-start condition or an underhood fire can result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will repair the magnetic switch.
- Notes
- Owner notification began February 9, 1998. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 98V016000
- Reported to NHTSA
- January 27, 1998
- Filed by
- TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.
- Owner notification
- February 9, 1998
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 47,525
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Electrical system › Starter assembly
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Lexus LS400 (1995-1997): 1997, 1996, 1995
- Lexus SC400 (1996-1997): 1997, 1996
Has your Lexus been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. Recall repairs are free.