2005 Lexus Rx300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Lexus Rx300 passed 79.0% of its 7,558 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 6.6pp 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 (11.3%) and lighting & signalling (9.2%) 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 375 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.8% versus 15.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.3% | 853 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 693 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 629 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 347 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 281 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.6% | 271 |
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 | 375 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 321 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 285 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 278 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 267 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 239 |
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 | 41.2% | 3,115 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.5% | 2,077 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.7% | 1,939 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.5% | 1,546 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.2% | 997 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 914 |
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 | 350 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,199 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,595 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,076 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,315 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,935 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 1,717 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 1,529 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 1,283 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 1,094 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Rx300
On a 2005 Rx300, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 2005 Lexus Rx300s pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 7,558 2005 Lexus Rx300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Rx300?
Brakes, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.2%).
Does the 2005 Rx300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 30-60k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,558 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.