Lexus Rx300 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 23 model years and 25,510 tests, the Lexus Rx300 passes its MOT 78.0% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 5.6pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
Best and worst Rx300 years
Ranked across Rx300 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 79.7% of 2006 examples pass against 73.1% of 2002 ones.
No single area dominates — brakes (11.4%) and lighting & signalling (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — position lamp alone was recorded 1,165 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 26.2% in the 150k+ band, a 14.9-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rx300 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 261 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 1,178 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 1,591 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 4,024 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 8,797 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 7,558 | 79.0% | 21.0% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 1,948 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 44 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.4% | 2,903 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 2,479 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 2,248 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 1,447 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 973 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.6% | 929 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 784 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 262 |
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 | 1,165 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,140 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,037 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 951 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 852 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 823 |
| 7 | Wipers | 734 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 709 |
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 | 40.1% | 10,236 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 6,734 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.0% | 6,370 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.8% | 5,039 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 3,519 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 3,436 |
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 | 133 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,048 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,995 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 8,326 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 7,305 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,673 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,302 | 22.0% |
| Other | 54 | 22.2% |
| Electric | 41 | 19.5% |
| Hybrid | 40 | 15.0% |
| Gas/LPG | 39 | 25.6% |
| Diesel | 34 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,055 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 6,012 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 4,997 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 4,102 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 3,344 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Rx300
- Brakes (11.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% 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 Rx300?
78.0% of the 25,510 Lexus Rx300 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.9% fail rate, across model years 1998–2020.
What does the Lexus Rx300 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 11.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Which Rx300 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2006 has the best pass rate at 79.7% and 2002 the weakest at 73.1%, from 1,948 and 1,591 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Rx300 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.2% for 150k+, a 14.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,510 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.