Lexus Rx 450H Premier MOT pass rate & common failures
The Lexus Rx 450H Premier appears in 2,319 MOT tests spanning model years 2012–2014, and 91.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 20.6% of the time, so this is 12.1pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 43 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 0.0% in the 0-30k band and 10.9% in the 150k+ band, a 10.9-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rx 450H Premier model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 709 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 1,593 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 79 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 79 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.3% | 76 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 51 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 39 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.3% | 7 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 3 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 3 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 37 |
| 3 | Wipers | 36 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 34 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 33 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 22 |
| 7 | Shock absorbers | 21 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 17 |
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 | 20.6% | 478 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.0% | 463 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 303 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 120 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 71 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 52 |
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 | 43 | 0.0% |
| 30-60k | 593 | 7.2% |
| 60-90k | 897 | 7.2% |
| 90-120k | 517 | 9.9% |
| 120-150k | 205 | 14.6% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 456 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 466 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 469 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 460 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 468 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Rx 450H Premier
- 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.
- Tyres (3.4% 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.
- Suspension (3.3% 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.
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 Premier?
91.5% of the 2,319 Lexus Rx 450H Premier MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.5% fail rate, across model years 2012–2014.
What does the Lexus Rx 450H Premier most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, then tyres (3.4%).
How much does mileage affect Rx 450H Premier MOT results?
Fail rates run at 0.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.9% for 150k+, a 10.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,319 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.