FaultScore

FaultScore report

2012 Lexus CT Hybrid problems

Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2012 Lexus CT Hybrid with NHTSA between 2016 and 2023. The largest single group is the airbags.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

14

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

68,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

0%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 2012 compares with every other Lexus CT Hybrid

Click any bar to open that year's report.

11 12 13 14 15 17
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2012 Lexus CT Hybrid

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 3 21.4%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

Airbags 3 21.4%
Lights 2 14.3%

Median failure at 66,500 miles

Electrical System 2 14.3%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 2 14.3%

Median failure at 81,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 7.1%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

Steering 1 7.1%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 4 36.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 27.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 18.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 2 18.2%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Aug 2016 peak 3 Jul 2023

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 105,297 miles Saint Petersburg, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact's son owns a 2012 Lexus CT200H. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact's son veered to the side of the road and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the brake actuator and the brake pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where the same diagnostic result was provided. The dealer related the failure to an unknown independent recall. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the recall had expired; however, they would consider assisting with the repair if the dealer completed the repair. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer, Lexus of Tampa Bay (5852 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33614) and was repaired; however, the manufacturer denied assistance in covering the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 105,297.

NHTSA complaint #11531597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Palmyra, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:BULBS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS CT 200H. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING WITH THE HI-BEAMS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING LOW-BEAM BULBS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000.

NHTSA complaint #11383686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Alexandria, VA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS CT200H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THERE WAS A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WHEN THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE, EXTENDING THE BRAKING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LINDSAY LEXUS OF ALEXANDRIA (3410 KING ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22302, 571-982-7873) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA complaint #11342395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Essex Junction, VT

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS CT 200H. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V487000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED BECAUSE NO TECHNICIANS WERE WILLING TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SPARK TOYOTA (4855 US-501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A CERTIFIED LEXUS TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11124508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Claremont, CA

ENGINE

ENGINE KNOCK DURING IDLE IN MORNING (COOL CONDITIONS, NOT COLD).BUT STILL SMOOTH DRIVING AND NO OTHER OBSERVED ISSUES. THEN TWO DAYS LATER THREW CODE P0301 MISFIRE, AND NEXT DAY WHITE SMOKE (COOLENT RESERVOIR DECREASE) AND APPEARS TO BE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ENGINE ONLY 122K MILES, FULLY SERVICED WITH SPARK PLUG CHANGE AT 119K. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN L-SB-0028-13 MAY INDICATE LINK TO EGR VALVE/LINE BLOCKAGE. DEALER NON-RESPONSIVE.

NHTSA complaint #11090768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Austin, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR PATCHY ROAD THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE CONTROL. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE LET GO AND THE SENSATION OF A CAR LUNGING FORWARD WITH NO DRIVER CONTROL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 50MPH AND I'VE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES IN AN ABRUPT FASHION. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #11084707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Austin, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR PATCHY ROAD THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE CONTROL. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE CALIPERS HAVE LET GO AND THE SENSATION OF A CAR LUNGING FORWARD WITH NO DRIVER CONTROL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 50MPH AND I'VE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES IN AN ABRUPT FASHION. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #11084707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. Pleasant, SC

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY TK HOLDINGS, INC., THAT MY VEHICLE CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG INFLATOR AND IS UNDER RECALL. I HAVE NOTIFIED MY LOCAL DEALER, HENDRICK LEXUS, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THEY HAVE NO DATE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11035803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS CT 200H. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V487000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10979636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Miami, FL

STEERING

1) A LIGHT IN A DASHBOARD CAME ON SAYING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM", I TOOK IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER , THEY CHANGED THE NON HYBRID BATTERY), CHARGED ME $350 FOR IT AND RESET THE COMPUTER. 2) A WEEK AFTER, THE LIGHT STARTED APPEARING AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE, THE MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE MORNING, IN THE WAY BACK HOME, COMING OUT OF THE SPEEDWAY , ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD CAME OFF (BRAKES, ENGINE, ALL OF THEM) AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR: NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NO NOTHING. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AGAIN, IT DID, AND THE NEXT DAY WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY TOOK IT IN, HAD IT OVER 2 DAYS, SAID THAT THEY FOUND A "LOOSE CAP IN THE HYBRID BATTERY", RESET THE COMPUTER ONE MORE TIME AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME. 3) THE CAR DID NOT FEEL THE SAME, IT WAS LIKE IF THE SWITCH BETWEEN HYBRID AND GAS MODEL WAS OFF, TOO ACCELERATED OR SOMETHING, BUT FOR THE MOST PART NO MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL YESTERDAY (A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT). SAME THING HAPPENED THIS TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST EVERYTHING: BRAKES, STEERING....IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY ONE MORE TIME AND NOBODY WAS HURT . THIS TIME THE CAR DID NOT START AGAIN. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND SENT IT TO THE DEALER. LOOSING ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACEPTABLE. I FELT I WAS TRAPPED IN A KILLING MACHINE. THIS COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. I COMMUNICATED THIS TO LEXUS.

NHTSA complaint #10949973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Miami, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1) A LIGHT IN A DASHBOARD CAME ON SAYING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM", I TOOK IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER , THEY CHANGED THE NON HYBRID BATTERY), CHARGED ME $350 FOR IT AND RESET THE COMPUTER. 2) A WEEK AFTER, THE LIGHT STARTED APPEARING AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE, THE MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE MORNING, IN THE WAY BACK HOME, COMING OUT OF THE SPEEDWAY , ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD CAME OFF (BRAKES, ENGINE, ALL OF THEM) AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR: NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NO NOTHING. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AGAIN, IT DID, AND THE NEXT DAY WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY TOOK IT IN, HAD IT OVER 2 DAYS, SAID THAT THEY FOUND A "LOOSE CAP IN THE HYBRID BATTERY", RESET THE COMPUTER ONE MORE TIME AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME. 3) THE CAR DID NOT FEEL THE SAME, IT WAS LIKE IF THE SWITCH BETWEEN HYBRID AND GAS MODEL WAS OFF, TOO ACCELERATED OR SOMETHING, BUT FOR THE MOST PART NO MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL YESTERDAY (A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT). SAME THING HAPPENED THIS TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST EVERYTHING: BRAKES, STEERING....IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY ONE MORE TIME AND NOBODY WAS HURT . THIS TIME THE CAR DID NOT START AGAIN. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND SENT IT TO THE DEALER. LOOSING ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACEPTABLE. I FELT I WAS TRAPPED IN A KILLING MACHINE. THIS COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. I COMMUNICATED THIS TO LEXUS.

NHTSA complaint #10949973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Miami, FL

ENGINE

1) A LIGHT IN A DASHBOARD CAME ON SAYING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM", I TOOK IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER , THEY CHANGED THE NON HYBRID BATTERY), CHARGED ME $350 FOR IT AND RESET THE COMPUTER. 2) A WEEK AFTER, THE LIGHT STARTED APPEARING AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE, THE MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE MORNING, IN THE WAY BACK HOME, COMING OUT OF THE SPEEDWAY , ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD CAME OFF (BRAKES, ENGINE, ALL OF THEM) AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR: NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NO NOTHING. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AGAIN, IT DID, AND THE NEXT DAY WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY TOOK IT IN, HAD IT OVER 2 DAYS, SAID THAT THEY FOUND A "LOOSE CAP IN THE HYBRID BATTERY", RESET THE COMPUTER ONE MORE TIME AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME. 3) THE CAR DID NOT FEEL THE SAME, IT WAS LIKE IF THE SWITCH BETWEEN HYBRID AND GAS MODEL WAS OFF, TOO ACCELERATED OR SOMETHING, BUT FOR THE MOST PART NO MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL YESTERDAY (A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT). SAME THING HAPPENED THIS TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST EVERYTHING: BRAKES, STEERING....IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY ONE MORE TIME AND NOBODY WAS HURT . THIS TIME THE CAR DID NOT START AGAIN. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND SENT IT TO THE DEALER. LOOSING ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACEPTABLE. I FELT I WAS TRAPPED IN A KILLING MACHINE. THIS COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. I COMMUNICATED THIS TO LEXUS.

NHTSA complaint #10949973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Canton, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

EACH TIME THE FOG LAMPS ARE USED, SEEMS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POPS THE FOG LAMP GLASS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. INCLUDING PIPING OF THE FACTORY FOG LAMPS THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE REPLACEMENTS. THE FOG LAMPS CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT POPPING.

NHTSA complaint #10899409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Canton, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EACH TIME THE FOG LAMPS ARE USED, SEEMS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM POPS THE FOG LAMP GLASS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. INCLUDING PIPING OF THE FACTORY FOG LAMPS THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE REPLACEMENTS. THE FOG LAMPS CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT POPPING.

NHTSA complaint #10899409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.