2017 Lexus Nx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 19,903 MOT tests, the 2017 Lexus Nx recorded a 94.4% pass rate. That is 6.2 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.8%. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.3%) and tyres (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 776 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Nx fails 3.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.3% | 665 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.9% | 576 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 279 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 275 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 173 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 45 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 776 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 260 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 219 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 200 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 170 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 110 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.4% | 4,254 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 2,127 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 1,324 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.6% | 1,114 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 556 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 24 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 5,051 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 10,317 | 5.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,579 | 7.7% |
| 90-120k | 750 | 10.3% |
| 120-150k | 149 | 5.4% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 7.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,927 | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 3,955 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 3,974 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 4,015 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 4,032 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Nx
On a 2017 Nx, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (2.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Lexus Nxs pass their MOT?
94.4% of the 19,903 2017 Lexus Nx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Lexus Nx?
Visibility, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by tyres (2.9%).
Does the 2017 Nx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,903 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.