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Lexus RC VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Lexus RC you are looking at. Then check its model year against 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefixJTH

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Lexus RC

About the Lexus RC

Lexus has sold the RC in the US since the 2015 model year. Across those years NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recall campaigns and 49 owner complaints. EPA rates it at 19–26 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2015–2025
EPA classSubcompact Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns5
Owner complaints49 at NHTSA
Lexus RC photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Lexus RC at a glance

One generation in the data, 2015–2025: 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 49 owner complaints.

1 / 1
RC
2015–2025Subcompact Cars
Lexus RC (2015–2025)

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

201520202025
2015–2025

Lexus RC

EPA classSubcompact Cars
EPA combined mpg19–26
NHTSA recalls5

Engines (EPA)

  • 3.5 L 6-cyl · 2015–2025
  • 5.0 L 8-cyl · 2015–2025
  • 2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2016–2025

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • automatic (2015–2025)

Known issues to check

Fuel system (16)Seats (7)Brakes (6)1 high-risk recall campaign

Mentions in 49 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · RCJTHHE5BC?F5······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2015 Lexus RC 350, built in Tahara, Aichi
Check an RC VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which RC model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 5 campaigns on file for RC model years 2015–2025, and the 2017 and 2018 show up in the most (4 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2018
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Lexus RC owners report

NHTSA data

Between them, the 2015 and 2017 hold 34 of the 49 complaints, or 69%. Tap any bar or generation.

49NHTSA complaints, 2015–2025
3mention a crash
1mention a fire
1injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearRC: 49 complaints · most for the 2015 (24)

Top complaint areas · RC

Mentions in 49 complaints, 2015–2025.

Fuel system16
Seats7
Brakes6
Electrical system5
Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)3
Speed control / acceleration3
Crashes 3Fires 1Injuries 1

2015–2025

NHTSA data summary

The 2015 is the outlier. On its own it has 24 of the ’s 49 complaints (49%), more than any other RC model year, and owners across the generation name fuel system most often (16 mentions), then seats (7).

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner complaints · by model year

RC complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every RC version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

49complaints, 2015–2025
3mention a crash
1mention a fire
1injuries reported
Most complaints: 2015 (24), 2017 (10), 2016 (5)
24’155’1610’17’20’25

2015 · 24 complaints

Crashes 0 · fires 0 · injuries 0

Seats7
Fuel/propulsion system5
Electrical system4
Unknown or other3
Fuel system2

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

RC CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 53 RC versions for model years 2015–2025. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 345 g/mi (2018). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

RC2015–2025

19–26 mpg · CO₂ 345–465 g/mi

2025
25combined MPG
356CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,300EPA yearly fuel cost
4/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
5/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV70 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 70Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2025: 300 · Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo — 25 MPG · 356 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
3003504004505002015202020252015 · Gas: 4012016 · Gas: 3482017 · Gas: 3452018 · Gas: 3452019 · Gas: 3602020 · Gas: 3632021 · Gas: 3572022 · Gas: 3562023 · Gas: 3552024 · Gas: 3552025 · Gas: 356
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

RC vs BMW 4 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2015–2025. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the RC, against 23 for the BMW 4 Series and 62 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Pick a range to compare.

Lexus RC

Model years 2015–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns
5
NHTSA owner complaints
49
EPA combined mpg
19–26
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.5 L · 8-cyl 5.0 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Fuel system 16
  2. Seats 7
  3. Brakes 6

BMW 4 Series

Model years 2015–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns
23
NHTSA owner complaints
296
EPA combined mpg
21–31
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0, 3.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed
turbo, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 127
  2. Electrical system 93
  3. Air bags 27

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Model years 2015–2025

NHTSA recall campaigns
62
NHTSA owner complaints
1,364
EPA combined mpg
15–30
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.8, 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0, 3.5 L · 8-cyl 4.0, 6.2 L
Also listed
turbo, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 399
  2. Fuel system 211
  3. Electrical system 176

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Lexus RC VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on an RC

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver Lexus RC (first generation) coupe, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The RC coupe carries its VIN at the base of the driver's side windshield, on the door jamb sticker, and inside the trunk lid. A firewall stamp in the engine compartment is also present.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Lexus RC VIN questions

How many recalls has the Lexus RC had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 5 vehicle campaigns for model years 2015–2025, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Lexus RC recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 18V-107. It should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Lexus RC get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2015–2025 RC at 19–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Lexus RC compare with the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class on recalls?

For 2015–2025 models the RC has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns. The BMW 4 Series has 23, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 62. Complaints run 49, 296 and 1,364 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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