FaultScore

Lexus CT vs Smart Fortwo

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Lexus CT Smart Fortwo
Complaints on file 192 475
Model years covered 2011–2016 2005–2019
Worst model year 2013 2008
Best model year 2014 2017
Crashes reported 22 28
Fires reported 2 68
Injuries reported 18 22
Deaths reported 1 1
Most complained-about part Brakes Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 22.4% 25.1%

Lexus CT by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Brakes 59 30.7%
Engine & Cooling 36 18.8%
Electrical System 16 8.3%
Other & Unspecified 16 8.3%
Airbags 12 6.3%
Body & Structure 7 3.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 7 3.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain 5 2.6%

Smart Fortwo by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 106 22.3%
Seat Belts 35 7.4%
Brakes 20 4.2%