2000 Lexus Rx300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Lexus Rx300 passed 72.4% of its 261 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.6%) and lighting & signalling (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2000 Rx300 fails 26.2% of the time in the 60-90k band and 25.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.6% | 38 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 36 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 25 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.2% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 25 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 15 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 6 | Decelerometer (sp) | 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 | 39.9% | 104 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.6% | 59 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.8% | 57 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.9% | 52 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 47 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.3% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 42 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 51 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 69 | 31.9% |
| 2023 | 42 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 38 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 31 | 35.5% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Rx300
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.6% 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 (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2000 Lexus Rx300s pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 261 2000 Lexus Rx300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Lexus Rx300?
Brakes, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.8%).
Does the 2000 Rx300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 60-90k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 261 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.