Most common 2013 Lexus CT problems
Share of the 44 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 2013 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 2013 Lexus CT owners say
Brakes
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 aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
A 2013 Lexus CT200h with approximately 122,291 miles developed repeated ticking/pump-cycling noises from the braking system. Shortly afterward, multiple brake/ABS/VSC warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Lexus dealer, where technicians diagnosed failure of the brake booster/master cylinder assembly and brake booster pump assembly. Diagnostic trouble codes C1391, C1252, C1256, and C1253 were recorded. The dealer advised that the vehicle should not be driven until repaired because of the brake-system condition. Lexus previously established Customer Support Program 21LE01 for this same brake booster and brake booster pump condition on certain CT200h vehicles, including these diagnostic trouble codes. …
Engine & cooling
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.
I have to replace my 2013 Ct engine. When I started it, there was a horrible knocking noise. This came as a surprise, as it was fine the day before. I had it towed to Lexus. I was told that there was no oil in the engine and it needs to be replaced. What????? 1. No warning light came on 2. I had an oil change recently ( within the 5K scheduled maintenance). I was quoted a price of $6960.35 to replace the engine with an engine with around 92K miles ( about the same as what I have). I did some investigation and called Lexus customer engagement. I reached out to Lexus. They offered me $1500 towards the repair. The car is still in the shop. Owners of the CT200h have reportedly been told by Lexus dealers that this is regular oil consumption. However, Toyota did issue a technical service bulletin for these engines. …
Body & structure
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.
I had placed my toll roads transponder (approx. 4"x4"x1/2') on the dash in front of the closed navigation panel. When I put the car in reverse, the navigation panel opened automatically and the transponder slid under the panel, preventing the panel from opening or closing all of the way. I was unable to remove the transponder so I took it to my Lexus dealer who told me since it was not a "warranty item", it would cost $140/hr to repair. It is a design defect - anything small will slide under the navigation panel when it opens and will jam the unit.
2013 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 2013 Lexus CT a good car?
Based on 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 CT rates avoid: 2.3× 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 2013 Lexus CT?
The brakes — 19 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (14) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 2013 Lexus CT have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 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 2013 Lexus CT problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 56,000 miles; 50% 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.