Lexus Rc MOT pass rate & common failures
11,620 MOT tests on the Lexus Rc (2014–2022) give it a 92.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 12.6% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests against 2.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 309 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.2% versus 5.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 6.8% of the time against 8.0% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rc model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,019 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 3,428 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 2,367 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 2,132 | 93.6% | 6.4% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 1,772 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 811 | 93.6% | 6.4% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 57 | 96.5% | 3.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 651 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 263 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.6% | 182 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 167 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 42 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.3% | 31 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 13 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 309 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 164 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 111 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 86 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 48 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 46 |
| 7 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 41 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 35 |
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 | 23.5% | 2,726 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 927 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.9% | 338 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 330 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 207 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 32 |
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 | 4,202 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 5,382 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,643 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 301 | 9.3% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 9,926 | 8.0% |
| Petrol | 1,694 | 6.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,834 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 2,276 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 2,525 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 2,465 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 2,520 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Rc
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Visibility (2.3% 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.
- Brakes (1.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lexus Rc?
92.2% of the 11,620 Lexus Rc MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.8% fail rate, across model years 2014–2022.
What does the Lexus Rc most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, then visibility (2.3%).
How much does mileage affect Rc MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 16.2% for 120-150k, a 11.0-point difference.
Is the petrol or hybrid Rc more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 6.8% of the time against 8.0% for the hybrid. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,620 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.