2015 Lexus Rx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Lexus Rx passed 92.5% of its 6,777 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2015 Rx comes out 6.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and lighting & signalling (2.4%) 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 brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 143 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.2% once past 150k — 3.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 286 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 162 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 148 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 118 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 91 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 143 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 110 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 84 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 81 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 73 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 44 |
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 | 21.8% | 1,480 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 891 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 878 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 309 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 233 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 63 |
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 | 401 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,917 | 5.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,348 | 8.6% |
| 90-120k | 846 | 10.3% |
| 120-150k | 216 | 12.5% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 12.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,356 | 6.1% |
| 2022 | 1,336 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 1,376 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 1,362 | 8.2% |
| 2025 | 1,347 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Rx
On a 2015 Rx, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.2% 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.
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 2015 Lexus Rxs pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 6,777 2015 Lexus Rx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Lexus Rx?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.4%).
Does the 2015 Rx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,777 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.