2017 Lexus RC
The 2017 Lexus RC is sold in the U.S. as a gas coupe with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RC 200t, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 9 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC 200t | Gas | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 32 | 26 | $3,150 |
| RC 350 | Gas | RWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| RC 300 AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 26 | 21 | $3,900 |
| RC 350 AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 26 | 21 | $3,900 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38192, 38189, 38188, 38190.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC 200t | 6 / 10 | LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| RC 300 AWD, RC 350, RC 350 AWD | 6 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Coupe |
| Doors | 2 |
| GVWR class | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2 L |
| Engine configuration | In-Line |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 306 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 4 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4x2 |
| Transmission | Automatic |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Parking assist
Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: 200t, 350, F). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 185.0 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 72.4 in |
| Height | 55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 107.5 in |
| Track, front | 62.2 in |
| Track, rear | 63.0 in |
| Curb weight | 3,891 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 54/46 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 300/350 AWD 2-door Coupe. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2017 Lexus RC is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (3)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseFuel System, Gasoline
20TA02, 20LA01Fuel System, Gasoline
20TB02/20TA02/20LB01These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific RC
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Lexus publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Lexus RC, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2017 Lexus RC
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this RC →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
11 per 10,000 built · Lexus reported 7,881 RC built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
26V222 Recall. The dealership won’t do my recall. I don’t get why they can’t give me the part and I sign a waiver for it. I’m owed a part for my car
Both rear shock absorbers failed simultaneously, with no rebound control. Shock failure made the vehicle very difficult to control on any uneven surface, especially while cornering. Yes, problem was confirmed by dealer and both rear shocks were replaced. Inspected by dealer No warning lights or other indications of failure
Collision brake warning comes for a second especially when driving during rain. Ive reported this to dealer muiltiple times and they cannot duplicate. Transmission shifts hard and slips most noticeable when making turn and giving gas, it starts to buck like a horse . Again dealer cannot duplicate
The break pads to my 2017 Lexus Rc 200T are grinding into my rotors. I have taken my vehicle to the Lexus dealership multiple times (4) at first I was forced to pay for the issue, with the dealer making a ridiculous claim that a small pebble jumped in between my break pad and rotors.
Vehicle does had a hard time starting and now does not start. Research indicates this is a known problem on this vehicle but my vehicle doesn’t seem to be included in the recall The main recall for the Lexus RC200t is due to a failing low-pressure fuel pump, which can cause the engine to stall while driving
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Lexus itself: 6 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 6 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 76 per 100,000 built. Every RC model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Wheels, Service Brakes.
- L-SB-0030-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2025-12-15 · Structure — Body
- Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interio
- L-SB-0032-25 Service bulletin2025-07-30 · Engine
- Some 2016 – 2020 model year GS F, 2008 – 2014 model year IS F, 2022 – 2025 model year IS 500, 2018 – 2025 model year LC 500, 2021 – 2025 model year LC 500c, and 2015 – 2025 model year RC F vehicles with 2UR-GSE engines may exhibit a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): •P0505 – Idle Control System •P2111 – Throttle Actuator Control System – Stuck Op
- L-SB-0043-23 Rev1 Service bulletin2025-06-13 · Electrical System
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
- L-SB-0017-19 Rev1 Service bulletin2025-02-07 · Structure — Body
- Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.
- L-SB-0030-24 Rev1 Service bulletin2024-07-29 · Structure — Body
- Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interio
- L-SB-0007-21 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-07-02 · Engine
- Some 2015 – 2017 model year NX 200t, 2016 – 2017 model year GS 200t, IS 200t, and RC 200t, 2018 – 2019 model year GS 300, and 2018 – 2021 model year NX 300, and 2018 – 2024 model year IS 300 and RC 300 vehicles equipped with an 8AR-FTS engine may exhibit a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): •Cylinder Misfire – P030000, P030027, P030085, P030100, P0
- L-SB-0030-24 Service bulletin2024-06-21 · Structure — Body
- Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
- L-SB-0024-24 Service bulletin2024-04-19 · Structure — Body
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1441 B1441 on Lexus → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Suspension · Struts and shocks → | 9 bulletins |
| B1442 B1442 on Lexus → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Suspension · Struts and shocks → | 9 bulletins |
| B1000 B1000 on Lexus → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Air Bags | 2 bulletins |
| P0087 P0087 on Lexus → | Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump → | 2 bulletins |
| P0171 P0171 on Lexus → | The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor → | 2 bulletins |
| P0174 P0174 on Lexus → | The engine is running lean on bank 2. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor → | 2 bulletins |
| P2610 P2610 on Lexus → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 2 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
RC by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2017 RC
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2017 Lexus RC have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Lexus RC. The most serious on file is 26V222000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2017 Lexus RC?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2017 Lexus RC yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (79/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Lexus RC?
Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Lexus RC, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2017 Lexus RC?
Transport Canada measured it at 185.0 in long, 72.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 55.1 in tall, on a 107.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,891 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2017 Lexus RC?
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Lexus RC, most often about fuel/propulsion system, unspecified, engine. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2017 Lexus RC?
The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Lexus RC is 6 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Lexus RC?
The manufacturer has filed 436 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Lexus RC, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2025-12-15. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 4 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 4 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 3 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 9 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 436 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 1 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 12 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.