Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2012AVOIDSerious complaints 2.5× usual, mostly engine and brakes
42 serious complaints of 51, the most about engine (17) and brakes (11); 2.5× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2012 vehicles.
What owners report
“Excessive oil consumption. I purchased the car January 7, 2021 and checked the oil on March 15, 2021 before a long trip and the oil didn't even register on the dipstick. I followed procedure before and up to checking the oil. I checked it when it was delivered and it was at the appropriate level.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Sep 2022
“Brake failure while driving. The brake pedal went soft when pressed and all the associated warning lights illuminated. ABS, traction, control, etc. This is a known issue for Toyota and Lexus, and even after servicing my vehicle at the dealer for the last two years I was never notified that this was a concern.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the brakes, Apr 2025
51 owner complaints · 0 recalls · EPA combined: 42 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl, 134 hp · Drive: FWD
2012 CT trims
| 200h |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Lexus reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Lexus aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1.8L 4-cyl, 134 hp | FWD | 42 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 4 | Service brakes (1) | — |
| 2016 | 1.8L 4-cyl, 134 hp | FWD | 42 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 3 | Service brakes (1) | — |
| 2015 | 1.8L 4-cyl, 134 hp | FWD | 42 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 16 | Service brakes (9) | — |
| 2014 | 1.8L 4-cyl, 134 hp | FWD | 42 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 20 | Service brakes (9) | — |
| 2013 | 1.8L 4-cyl, 134 hp | FWD | 42 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 40 | Service brakes (13) | — |
| 2012 | 1.8L 4-cyl, 134 hp | FWD | 42 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 51 | Engine (17) | — |
| 2011 | 1.8L 4-cyl, 98 hp | FWD | 42 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 24 | Engine (7) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lexus CT200H 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 4 |
| 2016 | Lexus CT200H 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 3 |
| 2015 | Lexus CT200H 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 16 |
| 2014 | Lexus CT200H 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 0 | 20 |
| 2013 | Lexus CT200H 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 0 | 40 |
| 2012 | Lexus CT200H 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 51 |
| 2011 | Lexus Ct200h 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 24 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | CT 200h | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L | 42 |
| 2016 | CT 200h | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L | 42 |
| 2015 | CT 200h | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L | 42 |
| 2014 | CT 200h | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L | 42 |
| 2013 | CT 200h | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L | 42 |
| 2012 | CT 200h | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L | 42 |
| 2011 | CT 200h | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.8 L | 42 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.