2012 Lexus Rx 450H Premier — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 709 MOT tests, the 2012 Lexus Rx 450H Premier recorded a 91.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (21.8% fail rate), the 2012 Rx 450H Premier comes out 13.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.0%) and suspension (3.7%) 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 brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 15 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 15.0% versus 5.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 28 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.7% | 26 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.2% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 14 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 15 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 4 | Wipers | 11 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 10 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 9 |
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 | 21.7% | 154 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.2% | 143 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 92 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 38 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 21 |
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 | 150 | 5.3% |
| 60-90k | 275 | 7.6% |
| 90-120k | 168 | 10.1% |
| 120-150k | 80 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 142 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 142 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 143 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 143 | 8.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Rx 450H Premier
On a 2012 Rx 450H Premier, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.7% 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 (3.2% 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
How many 2012 Lexus Rx 450H Premiers pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 709 2012 Lexus Rx 450H Premier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Lexus Rx 450H Premier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by suspension (3.7%).
Does the 2012 Rx 450H Premier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 30-60k band to 15.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 709 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.