LexusSC3001999Overview/lexus/sc300/1999/base/

1999 Lexus SC300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 SC300.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1999 Lexus SC300 is a passenger car equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission, EPA-rated at 17/24/19 mpg and requiring 5.5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil at service intervals. It generated 38 total owner complaints and one recall, with engine and engine cooling cited as the top complaint category. Relative to the 19921997 model years—which saw complaint counts fluctuate between a low of three in 1994 and a high of ten in 1992—the 1999 model sits outside that early cycle and carries a significantly heavier complaint burden, marking a distinct inflection point in the model’s reliability record.

Model year200019991998199719961995199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, 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.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire size225-55VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-, 6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780107020
Fuel filter2330020050 alt 2330050040
Front wiper blades8521224071 alt 8522220340
Serpentine belt9091602310
Thermostat9091603093 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8888030040

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume92 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs14 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts243 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub147 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub213 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.70-.94 Diamond ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance6,800-11,700 ohms
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.05-2.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity4.00-4.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145-218. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure4.3 psi @ Idle, 43-85 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.014 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 87 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.63 in / 1.26 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.63 in / 1.26 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.591 in / 1.181 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9033 ft. lbs

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) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (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 provided federal record shows early generation years (1992-1993) started with complaint volumes of 10 and 8 respectively, before dropping to 3 complaints annually in 1994 and 1995. By 1997, complaints rose slightly to 5, yet the data indicates zero recalls or investigations across all listed model years from 1992 through 1997. For the 1999 model year, data highlights Engine & Engine Cooling as the primary concern with 11 complaints, a figure surpassing the total annual complaints recorded for any previous year in the provided dataset. Additionally, the 1999 record specifies 5 crash complaints and 3 fire complaints, alongside issues noted in Vehicle Speed Control and Electrical Systems. This indicates a higher concentration of engine-related reports for 1999 compared to the mid-generation stability seen in 1994 and 1995. Given this elevated complaint volume in critical systems relative to prior years, this model year requires careful mechanical evaluation before purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
71
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
38
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 38 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling11
Vehicle Speed Control5
Electrical System3
Air Bags3
Power Train2
Seat Belts2
Suspension2
Visibility2

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 71 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 1999 SC300 take?

5.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 SC300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the SC300 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.