2006 Lexus Rx300 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,948 MOT tests on the 2006 Lexus Rx300 are in this dataset, and 79.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.3% of the time, so this is 7.0pp 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 (11.6%) and lighting & signalling (9.3%) 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 rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 25.0% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.6% | 226 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 181 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 138 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 87 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.4% | 66 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 61 |
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 | 95 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 81 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 75 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 75 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 67 |
| 6 | Wipers | 56 |
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% | 729 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.6% | 499 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.2% | 471 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 352 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.4% | 242 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 213 |
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 | 119 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 422 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 629 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 480 | 21.7% |
| 150k+ | 292 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 500 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 437 | 19.2% |
| 2023 | 410 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 315 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 286 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Rx300
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 11.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (11.6% 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 (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.1% 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 2006 Lexus Rx300s pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 1,948 2006 Lexus Rx300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Rx300?
Brakes, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Does the 2006 Rx300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 30-60k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,948 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.