LexusSC3001992Overview/lexus/sc300/1992/base/

1992 Lexus SC300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 SC300.

The 1992 Lexus SC300 is a model that uses an engine requiring 5.1 qt of 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API oil. Its power‑train accounted for all reported owner complaints, totaling ten in 1992, and no recalls were issued. Across the 1992‑1997 model years the complaint tally peaked in 1992 and fell to three by 1994, showing that the 1992 model year marks the highest early‑generation issue level while later years demonstrate improving reliability.

Model year200019991998199719961995199419931992

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.1 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780107020
Fuel filter2330050040
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8521224071 alt 852221G090
Serpentine belt9091602310
Thermostat9091603093 alt 1632562010

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.1 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.9 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.1 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Lexus SC300 generated 10 federal complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations and 27 technical service bulletins, placing its complaint volume above the 3‑complaint levels seen in 1994 and 1995 but below the 1997 peak of 5. Its top complaint categories were Power Train (2), Visibility (1), Air Bags (1) and Electrical System (1), and it recorded 3 crash‑related complaints and 1 fire‑related complaint. Compared with the immediate successor year (1993, 8 complaints, 27 TSBs) and the later years (1994‑1995, each with 3 complaints), 1992’s complaint count is moderate but includes safety‑related incidents that later years avoided. The data shows no recalls or investigations for any of these model years, indicating that defects were addressed through service bulletins rather than formal corrective actions. Consequently, for a prospective buyer, the 1992 model carries a relatively higher complaint burden and safety‑related reports, making it a less optimal choice than later model years.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
27
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
10
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 10 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train2
Visibility1
Air Bags1
Electrical System1
Unknown Or Other1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Power Train,Electrical System,Equipment1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 27 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Lexus PRO19-02 -2022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
Lexus Safety Re2020-05-01EquipmentSafety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
L-SB-0179-17 Obs2020-04-06EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
L-SB-0008-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific SC300. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 SC300 take?

5.1 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 SC300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.