LexusSC4001995Overview/lexus/sc400/1995/base/

1995 Lexus SC400

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 SC400.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1995 Lexus SC400 is a luxury grand tourer that pairs a four-speed automatic transmission with a fuel efficiency rating of 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined, and it holds 5 quarts of oil with a recommended viscosity of 10W-30 or 5W-30 per API standards; that model year falls within a complaint history spanning 1990 to 2001, where it recorded only 9 total owner complaints—itself a notably low figure compared to the peak of 30 complaints logged in 1992—and with zero recalls to date, the 1995 SC400 stands as one of the more dependable iterations within the model's run, suggesting strong mechanical integrity for researchers evaluating long-term reliability.

Model year200019991998199719961995199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/23/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 27F · 625 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD3. 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 27F · 625 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 filter90915YZZD3
Engine air filter1780107020
Fuel filter2330050040
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8522220340 alt 8521224071
Serpentine belt9091602361
Thermostat90916A3003 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 / 23 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

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

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts72 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission64.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.05-2.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity4.00-4.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number27F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance625 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test11-15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression142-178 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs / 77 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.26 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.26 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.181 in / 0.591 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
13 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9 ft. lbs., Step 3: 12 ft. lbs.3 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 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 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension 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 1995 Lexus SC400 sits in a relatively quiet middle period of this generation's federal record. After a pronounced early spike of 30 complaints in 1992 and 11 in 1993, reported complaints dropped to just 2 in 1994 and rose only modestly to 9 in 1995, with zero recalls and zero investigations that year. TSB activity held steady at 28 for 1995, consistent with 1993–1994 and well below the later peak of 42 seen in 1998–2000. The 1995 complaints were scattered across tires, vehicle speed control, electrical/interior lighting, and brakes/air bags, with one crash-related complaint and no fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Given the low and stable complaint volume, absence of recalls, and position after the 1992–1993 complaint spike, 1995 appears to be a favorable year to buy within this generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
28
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
9
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 9 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Tires2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Electrical System,Interior Lighting1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Air Bags1
Visibility1
Seats1
Electrical System1

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 28 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 SC400. 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 1995 SC400 take?

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

Does the 1995 SC400 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the SC400 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.