2003 Lexus Rx300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Lexus Rx300 passed 77.8% of its 4,024 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 5.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.1%) and lighting & signalling (10.0%) 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 headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 176 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.7% in 2021 to 20.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.1% | 447 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 404 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 362 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 238 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 170 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.7% | 150 |
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 | 176 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 171 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 162 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 158 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 146 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 132 |
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 | 37.4% | 1,503 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.4% | 1,062 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.8% | 999 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.2% | 772 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 650 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.3% | 575 |
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 | 41 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 135 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 618 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,208 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,186 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 821 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,160 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 997 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 773 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 612 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 482 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Rx300
On a 2003 Rx300, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.1% 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 (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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
How many 2003 Lexus Rx300s pass their MOT?
77.8% of the 4,024 2003 Lexus Rx300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Lexus Rx300?
Brakes, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.0%).
Does the 2003 Rx300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,024 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.