Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 43 safety complaints
about the 2013 Lexus CT with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the brakes,
named in 17 complaints, 40% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 50,976 miles,
the median across the 22
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers March 2013 to January 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
43 complaints on file
43
Complaints
4
Describe a crash
1
Mention fire
3
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
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.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
SERVICE BRAKES 17 · 40%
17 40%
ENGINE 13 · 30%
13 30%
STRUCTURE 4 · 9%
4 9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 · 7%
3 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 7%
3 7%
AIR BAGS 2 · 5%
2 5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 · 5%
2 5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 5%
2 5%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 5%
2 5%
SUSPENSION 2 · 5%
2 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 5%
2 5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 · 2%
1 2%
0815
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 43.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2015 at 6.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2013 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not crash tested the 2013 Lexus CT. Its New Car Assessment Program
tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach
motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so
an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It
is not a low score.
What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a
different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people
inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke
during ordinary use.
Defect investigations
1 on file
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.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
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 · towed · 37,000 miles
SINGLE VEHICLE ROLLOVER APROX. 75MPH ON HIGHWAY.. VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED WITH EXTREME FORCE ON ALL SIDES AND TOP OF VEHICLE. DRIVERS LEFT SHOULDER AND FACE WHERE INJURED DURING THE IMPACT AND ROLL. SIDE CURTAIN DEPLOYMENT WOULD HAVE SAVED DRIVER FROM INJURY IF THEY WHERE WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint 10780698. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
1 injured · crash · towed · 60,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 2013 LEXUS CT200. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP NOT ALLOWING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE, BROKEN LEFT HAND, AND A BROKEN FEMUR BONE. THE CONTACT DID RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THIS ISSUE TO THE REPAIRS TO THE LEFT CONTROL ARM PRIOR TO CRASHING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
NHTSA complaint 11405808, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
1 injured · 16,900 miles
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 LEXUS CT200H EXPLODED WITH A DEAFENING BANG. WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP, AC RUNNING, SUNROOF CLOSED. I WAS NOT NEAR A BRIDGE, NOR WAS SOMEONE NEXT TO ME WHO COULD HAVE THROWN SOMETHING. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN AUSTIN TEXAS, BUT THEY DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM ("SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT IT" THEY SAID, ALTHOUGH I ASKED WHY THE REMAINING GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD, FOR WHICH THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER), AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE SUNROOF UNDER WARRANTY (ITS A 2013, WITH ABOUT 17K MILES). I HAD A FRIEND WHO HAD A LEXUS SERVICED THERE YESTERDAY (AFTER I'D GONE) TO ASK THE SAME DEALER IF THEY'VE HEARD OF IT, AND THE SERVICE …
NHTSA complaint 10644535, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AFTER A LOUD NOISE THE bottom of the vehicle went on fire. we called the fire department who put out the fire. After looking at the bottom I notice that the crankcase had a big hole. it seems that a valve went right through the cracnkcase. resulting in hot engine oil going on fire. The car is only 5 months old and Carmax will not pay for the repair which could cost me 5,000 dollars. I paid 27,000 for the car.
NHTSA complaint 11479752. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
This is a known defect covered under Customer Support Program 21-LE-01. Lexus failed to notify me despite regular service at their dealership. I was forced to pay $3,000 for a safety defect that should have been covered
NHTSA complaint 11713182. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding Lexus’ refusal to correct a known safety-related defect under Customer Support Program (CSP) 21LE01. My vehicle meets all criteria outlined in the program, yet Lexus denied coverage. Details: 1.Program Coverage: CSP 21LE01 covers Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump assemblies for internal malfunctions verified by Diagnostic Trouble Codes C1391, C1252, C1256, or C1253. Coverage extends 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. 2.Vehicle Qualification: •Mileage: under 150,000 miles •Model year/production range: covered under CSP 21LE01 •Symptoms: brake-system warning lights, reduced braking performance, and internal malfunctions •DTCs: …
NHTSA complaint 11703287, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
My daughter was driving home at night and the vehicle brakes did not respond normally after coming to a gated entry, she was able to stop with limited braking power and luckily she did not get into an accident. The vehicle gave no warning prior to the incident, and started to show all 4 lights on the dash after the fact;BRAKE, CAUTION, ABS, Stability Control with a beeping sound. She had to stop the vehicle immediately because we felt if was unsafe to do so. The car was stored in the garage for a few days waiting for the codes to get scanned but after starting it the errors were gone, I was able to take a long drive without a problem. Then once again while driving (not when starting the …
NHTSA complaint 11693122, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Lexus CT 200H. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the brake pedal was depressed and the ABS, traction control, and master warning lights illuminated. The message "Check ABS System" was displayed. The cruise control feature then became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who retrieved DTC: C1391, indicating an abnormal leak in the brake actuator accumulator; however, the contact was unaware of which parts needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission later failed to shift into drive(D) or reverse(R). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made …
NHTSA complaint 11689139, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
Driving down the 99Freeway at speeds approx. Up to 72mph, my abs,traction, and brake lights illuminated at the same time on my dash. I pushed on my brake pedal in order to slow down and pull over, my brake pedal was extremely hard to push in and no matter how hard I pushed it didn't appear to be slowing the vehicle down. I pushed on the emergency brake slowly to help slow down safely and was able to get pulled over. I turned the car off and proceeded to call a friend for help. My friend suggested that I start the vehicle back up and see if I was comfortable enough to continuing to drive it to get myself off of the freeway, which I did. Then when I got off the freeway, I noticed all the …
NHTSA complaint 11684014, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
Hydraulic pump problem
NHTSA complaint 11651417. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst