The Lexus CT spans 2011–2017 with 2 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers up to 42 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Lexus CT is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2011 to 2017 across multiple generations.
How to read a Lexus CT VIN — every digit explained
Every Lexus CT carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Lexus and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this CT.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your CT, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Lexus CT have?
The Lexus CT has 2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2011–2017. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2012 Lexus CT recalls 1
Air Bags:side/window
What's wrong. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Lexus CT200h vehicles. A weld in the curtain shield air bag inflator may crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject into the passenger cabin.
Risk. If either portion of the curtain shield air bag inflator ejects into the passenger cabin, there is an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install retention brackets to the curtain shield air bags, free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Service Department at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is Toyota G0U, and Lexus GLJ.
2011 Lexus CT recalls 1
Air Bags:side/window
What's wrong. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Lexus CT200h vehicles. A weld in the curtain shield air bag inflator may crack causing one or both portions of the inflator to eject into the passenger cabin.
Risk. If either portion of the curtain shield air bag inflator ejects into the passenger cabin, there is an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install retention brackets to the curtain shield air bags, free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota Customer Service Department at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is Toyota G0U, and Lexus GLJ.
Best and worst years for the Lexus CT
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Lexus CT — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Lexus CT problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Lexus CT — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Lexus CT specifications & dimensions
The 2014–2017 Lexus CT measures 171″ long on a 102″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 3,219 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Lexus CT window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2017 | 171″ | 70″ | 57″ | 102″ | 3,219 lb |
| 2011 | 170″ | 70″ | 57″ | 102″ | 4,057 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Lexus CT cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the CT holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 86 cu ft of passenger volume and 14 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Lexus CT tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Lexus CT get?
The Lexus CT returns up to 42 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $1,500/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2017 Lexus CT (1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid) gets 42 mpg combined and costs about $1,500/yr to fuel, emitting 212 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 9/10, smog 8/10) — that's about $3,500 saved over 5 years versus the average new vehicle.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 CT | 43 | 40 | $1,500 | 212 | 8/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2016 CT | 43 | 40 | $1,500 | 212 | 8/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2015 CT | 43 | 40 | $1,500 | 219 | 8/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2014 CT | 43 | 40 | $1,500 | 186 | 8/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2013 CT | 43 | 40 | $1,500 | 218 | 8/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2012 CT | 43 | 40 | $1,500 | 212 | 8/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | |
| 2011 CT | 43 | 40 | $1,500 | 212 | 8/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the CT stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this CT's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Lexus CT have? Power & range
The Lexus CT is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1.8L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Lexus CT cost to own?
A used Lexus CT sells for a median of about $20,700 for a 2017 — most listed between $19,800 and $20,700, from 75 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 CT | $19,800–$20,700 | 13 | |
| 2016 CT | $10,999–$22,990 | 6 | |
| 2015 CT | $9,000–$17,900 | 5 | |
| 2014 CT | $9,990–$15,995 | 13 | |
| 2013 CT | $5,900–$16,995 | 14 | |
| 2012 CT | $5,400–$10,800 | 16 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a CT is worth today, or browse used-market prices for sedans.
A Lexus CT holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | $25,200 | −$4,800 |
| Year 2 | 76% | $22,800 | −$7,200 |
| Year 3 | 68% | $20,400 | −$9,600 |
| Year 4 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 5 | 56% | $16,800 | −$13,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this CT loses about 44% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $7,500 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the CT ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Lexus CT to insure?
A Lexus CT costs about $1,675 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 17% above the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (117, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the CT's HLDI loss index. See Lexus insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Lexus CT safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the CT yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
Tired of ads? Go Pro.
- Zero ads — clean, fast pages
- Exact mileage-adjusted car values
- Full research reports + PDF
- Market charts & price-drop alerts
- …and much more
How many miles does a Lexus CT last?
A well-maintained Lexus CT typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Lexus CT’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this CT’s VIN free →All Lexus CT model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Lexus CT — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 CT | 0 | — | |
| 2016 CT | 0 | — | |
| 2015 CT | 0 | — | |
| 2014 CT | 0 | — | |
| 2013 CT | 0 | — | |
| 2012 CT | 1 recall | — | |
| 2011 CT | 1 recall | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the CT?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Lexus CT.
How many recalls does the CT have?
2 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2011–2017. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Lexus recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the CT get?
Up to 42 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a CT last?
A well-maintained CT typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the CT reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the CT is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Lexus CT warranty?
New Lexus models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 6 years / 70,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Lexus dealer.
Where is the Lexus CT made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your CT's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Lexus may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a CT weigh?
The CT's curb weight is around 3,219 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the CT have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.