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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q13FHtj987XYBRjLc8h9B200cNRutksBtGAZibZPP+879hOKSdSNlSNvuHp+iu6F
 4Z6d9tgVQ7lVtFlTJETjSg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-008860.txt : 20090402
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-008860.hdr.sgml : 20090402
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090402172226
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-008860
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090402
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090402

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEWART ROBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001114763

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06776
		FILM NUMBER:		09728817

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2728 N HARWOOD ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 199000
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTEX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018532
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531]
		IRS NUMBER:				750778259
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2728 N HARWOOD
		STREET 2:		-
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		214-981-5000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 199000
		STREET 2:		-
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75219

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTEX CONSTRUCTION CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19681211
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018532</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTEX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001114763</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEWART ROBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2728 N HARWOOD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201-1516</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP-Strategy &amp; Corp Dvlpmt</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1037</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>93405</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Payment of tax liability associated with vesting of restricted stock by withholding securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James R. Peacock III as attorney-in-fact for Robert S. Stewart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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