2012 Lexus Ct Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Lexus Ct Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags321.4%
- Brakes321.4%
- Electrical214.3%
- Engine214.3%
- Exterior lighting214.3%
- Driver assistance17.1%
- Steering17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .