2021 Lexus Nx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Lexus Nx passed 96.3% of its 9,008 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (8.1% fail rate), the 2021 Nx comes out 4.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.6%) and lighting & signalling (1.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 240 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 7.5% versus 2.6%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.8% of tests failed in 2023 against 4.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.6% | 233 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 173 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 164 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 42 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 240 |
| 2 | Wipers | 176 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 85 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 27 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 18 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 15 |
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 | 20.4% | 1,842 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.2% | 469 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 325 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 156 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 141 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 8 |
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 | 5,804 | 2.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,993 | 5.5% |
| 60-90k | 187 | 7.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 121 | 0.8% |
| 2024 | 4,420 | 3.1% |
| 2025 | 4,463 | 4.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Nx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.6% 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 (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.8% 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.
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 2021 Lexus Nxs pass their MOT?
96.3% of the 9,008 2021 Lexus Nx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Lexus Nx?
Tyres, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.9%).
Does the 2021 Nx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.6% in the 0-30k band to 7.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,008 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.