Used car guide

2011 Lexus CT electric: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the electric Lexus CT first registered in 2011 (electric cars only): we looked at the 1,569 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,569MOTs of 2011 electric cars, done in 2023–2025
76%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 62%)
8,200typical miles a year
12×the usual rate for corroded fuel pipes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Lexus CT electric?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Lexus CT electric than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Corroded fuel pipes12× usual
    Lexus CT
    3.6% All 2011 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.9% here, against 7% of all 2011 cars. Exhaust system: 1.8% here, against 5.8% of all 2011 cars.

Common 2011 Lexus CT electric MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 Lexus CT electric MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    30% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    26% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    20% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Steering
    4% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Known faults on the 2011 Lexus CT electric

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Centre console rattles (older cars)

    Older cars

    Some older cars rattle and squeak around the centre console. Otherwise very few problems are reported, and it scored 99.2% in What Car?'s survey.

    At the viewing: Listen around the console on a rough road.

    Source: What Car?: used Lexus CT (2011-2021) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Lexus CT electric

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the corroded fuel pipes? (Flagged at MOT 12× as often on the 2011 Lexus CT electric as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Lexus CT?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Lexus CT compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021599Tyres 19%
20203,764Tyres 24%
20195,717Tyres 26%
20188,101Tyres 26%
20178,808Tyres 27%
20168,777Tyres 28%
201510,381Tyres 28%
201411,259Tyres 27%
201310,950Tyres 29%
201212,557Tyres 28%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Lexus CT cars first registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score