Lexus Rx 450H -I MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 4 model years and 687 tests, the Lexus Rx 450H -I passes its MOT 86.5% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 10.7pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and suspension (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 64 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 15.9% once past 150k — 4.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rx 450H -I model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 143 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 273 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 261 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 68 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 51 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.9% | 27 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 21 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 5 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 5 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 64 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 14 |
| 7 | Wipers | 14 |
| 8 | Ball joint dust cover | 13 |
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 | 30.9% | 212 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.3% | 160 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 97 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.8% | 74 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 38 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 30 |
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 | 30 | 3.3% |
| 60-90k | 185 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 233 | 15.0% |
| 120-150k | 151 | 15.2% |
| 150k+ | 88 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 614 | 13.8% |
| Electric | 30 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 134 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 131 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 131 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 147 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 144 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Rx 450H -I
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
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 Rx 450H -I?
86.5% of the 687 Lexus Rx 450H -I MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.5% fail rate, across model years 2009–2012.
What does the Lexus Rx 450H -I most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, then suspension (7.4%).
How much does mileage affect Rx 450H -I MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.3% for cars in the 30-60k band and 15.9% for 150k+, a 12.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 687 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.