CSR

Lexus · NHTSA safety record

2012 Lexus CT

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

43

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Lexus CT have filed 43 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2012 and September 2025. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 15 of them (35%). The typical failure was reported at 39,937 miles, the median across the 22 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 43.

ENGINE 15 35%
SERVICE BRAKES 11 26%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 12%
AIR BAGS 4 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 5%
STRUCTURE 2 5%
SUSPENSION 2 5%
EQUIPMENT 1 2%
POWER TRAIN 1 2%
SEAT BELTS 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2013 at 7.

2012 2013 2025
2012 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 19,100 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS CT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AREA. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,100.

NHTSA complaint 10681340. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 20,000 miles

THE PASSENGER SIDE GLASS ON MY 2012 CT EXPLODED FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON A FEW DAYS AGO. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65 MPH AND I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD 'BOOM' AND THE SIDE WINDOW WAS GONE... COMPLETELY GONE. NOTHING HIT MY CAR, NO ROCKS, NO BULLETS... NO BRICKS. THERE WAS NO ONE BESIDE ME AND I WAS ON I-81. HAD I OVER-REACTED, I COULD HAVE CRASHED THE CAR. HAD THERE BEEN A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY CUT FROM THE FLYING GLASS SHARDS AT 65 MPH. I EXPERIENCED CUTS ON MY RIGHT HAND AND ARM. LEXUS, IN A COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTING SHOW OF CUSTOMER "SERVICE" IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR IT UNDER WARRANTY. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A CT THAT HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. DO A GOOGLE

NHTSA complaint 10508119, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EQUIPMENT

crash · 10,000 miles

BEFORE THE BACKUP CAMERA IS DISPLAYED, THE SCREEN RISES FROM THE DASH BOARD AND SAYS "LEXUS' FOR 5 SECONDS AND "ENFORM" FOR 5 SECONDS. IN MARCH, I BACKED INTO A MAINTENANCE VEHICLE WHICH CAME UP AFTER I GOT IN MY CAR AND WAS NOT VISIBLE WITH MY MIRRORS. THIS WOULD NOT HAPPENED WITH ANY OTHER BRAND. THE DEALER SAYS IT CANNOT BE CHANGED AND GAVE ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR $927. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE CAMERA. THE DISPLAY SERVES NO PURPOSE, AND THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA complaint 10585359. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

crash · 112,000 miles

SEVERAL CLAIMS OF SHUTTER RESULTING IN LOW POWER WHEN LEAVING A STOP. BECAUSE THE ENGINE TURNS OFF ENTERING EV MODE. IN THE CORSE OF 20 SECONDS THE CAR WITHOUT NOTICE UNTIL TAKING OFF ENTERING ICE ENGINE OPERATION A MASSIVE SHUTTER HAPPENS THAT WHEN LOTS OF FORWARD POWER. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHEN NO ISSUES NOTED WAITING TO CROSS INTERSECTION OR PULLING INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint 11299430. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
The brake booster assembly has developed a leak in the pressure accumulator resulting in constant actuation to keep the pressure sufficient. Complete failure is impending with a C1391 code and loss of power brakes. Toyota has offered a CSP to address this issue but only for a very limited time and at the time of creation of said TSP only covered model years up to 10 years old. 2011-2013 CT200h models are not covered by this CSP. Furthermore due to the limited time period in which the CSP was active, many cars were not covered due to not developing fault codes at that time. Part prices alone to resolve this issue from the dealership are above $2000.

NHTSA complaint 11685591. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
At ~101,000 miles, my 2012 Lexus CT200h triggered error code C1307, indicating a failure of the brake pressure accumulator / brake booster system. Prior warnings appeared via dashboard alerts. This caused reduced braking performance, creating a serious safety risk. The issue was confirmed by a Lexus dealer and independently by a certified mechanic, who repaired it. I contacted Lexus Customer Support for coverage under CSP 21LE01, but they denied it due to the 10-year time limit, even though my vehicle was within the 150,000-mile limit. Dealer estimated ~$4,600; I had it repaired independently for $2,000, sourcing parts online at ~50% of dealer pricing. This is a safety-critical defect

NHTSA complaint 11685335, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Brake failure while driving. The brake pedal went soft when pressed and all the associated warning lights illuminated. ABS, traction, control, etc. This is a known issue for Toyota and Lexus, and even after servicing my vehicle at the dealer for the last two years I was never notified that this was a concern.

NHTSA complaint 11654277. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
My 2011-2013 Lexus CT200h exhibits malfunction indicator lamp illumination for the brake, ABS, and traction control systems, accompanied by diagnostic trouble code C1391. Research indicates this is a known manufacturing defect, and I possess documentation from the customer support program confirming coverage for this issue in vehicles of this model year. However, the Lexus dealership and service advisors refuse to acknowledge this coverage and saying that it is expired. Therefore, I require guidance on how to proceed with resolving this matter.

NHTSA complaint 11645312. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
A prevalent issue observed in the Lexus CT200h and Toyota Prius V models is the internal leakage of brake accumulators, as they utilize identical part numbers. Consequently, the actuator emits a buzzing sound intermittently as it attempts to maintain the necessary gas pressure within the braking system, ultimately failing due to the leak. Numerous articles addressing this concern are available online, highlighting its significance as a safety issue. Many owners have successfully had Toyota replace the faulty part at no cost, thanks to the extended warranty covering a period of ten years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. This may be attributed to the higher prevalence of Prius

NHTSA complaint 11630491, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
The actuator will buzz every few seconds trying to keep pressure in the braking system to a safe operating level of gas pressure to no avail due to this leak in the actuator. After it quits buzzing from shutting the car off, you can hear the air leak hissing the pressure away. There is not much stopping distances when and after this suddenly occurs. In the process, the abs, traction control, brake, a yellow exclamation mark, lights suddenly all come on the dash at once and the brake feels like a sponge very suddenly. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the

NHTSA complaint 11623648, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lexus CT

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2015 16 0
2014 19 0
2013 43 0
2011 22 0

Other 2012 Lexus models

Every Lexus on this site — 88 vehicles, 116 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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