2012 Lexus Rx 450H F — MOT failures & pass rate
861 MOT tests on the 2012 Lexus Rx 450H F are in this dataset, and 90.2% of them passed. That is 11.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.2%) and visibility (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and position lamp — wipers alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Rx 450H F fails 7.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 11.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.4% in 2021 to 6.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.2% | 36 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.5% | 30 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 29 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.4% | 21 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 32 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 14 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.6% | 220 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.6% | 203 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.0% | 155 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.3% | 80 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 48 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 44 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 104 | 7.7% |
| 60-90k | 327 | 8.0% |
| 90-120k | 267 | 10.9% |
| 120-150k | 120 | 13.3% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 182 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 175 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 169 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 172 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 163 | 6.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Rx 450H F
On a 2012 Rx 450H F, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (4.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (3.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% 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 2012 Lexus Rx 450H Fs pass their MOT?
90.2% of the 861 2012 Lexus Rx 450H F MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Lexus Rx 450H F?
Suspension, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.5%).
Does the 2012 Rx 450H F get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 30-60k band to 11.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 861 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.