Most common 2012 Lexus CT problems
Share of the 43 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus CT complaints by model year
Best CT years: 2014, 2011, 2015. Years to avoid: 2013, 2012. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Lexus CT:
Pedestrian alert sounds
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.
What 2012 Lexus CT owners say
Engine & cooling
I had the recommended 100,000 mile service done on my car at approx 106,000 miles. At aprox 109,500 miles I checked my oil after noticing my passenger headlight was out and I would be putting a new one in. When I went through the procedure for checking the oil it wasn't even showing any oil on the dipstick. After reattempting the procedure and checking to make sure I was on level ground still no oil on the dipstick. It took 2 1/2 quarts to get it to the recommended level. I'm at 110,600 today and again the oil was very low registering between 1/8-1/4 Inchon the bottom of the dipstick. There are no oil spots in my two regular spots between my home and my job and my car does not smoke and has never shown a check engine light and has no stored DTC's. I'm scheduling an oil change this coming week and I will alert the Service Manager about the problem. …
First noticed excessive oil usage. Then, engine rumble. Temperature warning light. Took to repair shop who was unable to repair stating ONLY Lexus has tools required to repair. Lexus will not divulge how to repair. Lexus states a letter was mailed to me (never received) in 2016 for a service issue - warranty enhancement. Thus, they are aware of the issue. Now that I'm having issues with the car (2021), the car is too old and has too many miles, thus, Lexus will not repair free of charge under service issue. I am Scared to drive because of hundreds of on line reports that state car can and make completely stop while driving. Toyota is fully aware of the issue and should be help liable to repair under a recall. …
Brakes
A common problem with these Lexus ct200h, as well as Toyota Prius V models, are that the brake accumulators begin to leak internally, as they share the same part numbers. Therefore, 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 are many articles on this issue online as this is a major safety concern. Many have had Toyota replace the part free of charge as well due to the extended 10 year, or 150k miles, in whichever comes first. warranty. This may be perhaps because there are several more Prius on the road than this rare Lexus CT200h. There are no external brake fluid leaks involved. for this actuator. …
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 vehicles on the road compared to the less common Lexus CT200h. A simple search for "C1391 danger" will yield substantial information on the topic. …
Air bags
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.
Our horn stopped working. We were advised that this was a spiral cable assembly failure, and the airbags are likely affected. Toyota initiated a recall in 2014 for this part, however we are told our vehicle does not qualify for recall.
2012 Lexus CT engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 43 / 40 / 42 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Lexus CT a good car?
Based on 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 CT rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the CT at the same age. It is one of the CT years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Lexus CT?
The engine & cooling — 15 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (11) and air bags (4).
How many recalls does the 2012 Lexus CT have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Lexus CT. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus CT?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2011 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013 and 2012. See the full Lexus CT years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Lexus CT problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 59% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.