2009 Lexus Rx350 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Lexus Rx350 passed 83.1% of its 337 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 8.5pp 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 (8.9%) and lighting & signalling (8.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, brake pads and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 18 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.9% in the 60-90k band and 19.4% in the 150k+ band, a 5.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.9% | 30 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 16 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 7 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 4 | Wipers | 8 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 7 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
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 | 32.0% | 108 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.7% | 90 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.6% | 83 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 41 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.2% | 31 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 23 |
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 | 79 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 128 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 78 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 72 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 67 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 56 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Rx350
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 8.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.8% 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
How many 2009 Lexus Rx350s pass their MOT?
83.1% of the 337 2009 Lexus Rx350 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Lexus Rx350?
Brakes, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.6%).
Does the 2009 Rx350 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 60-90k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 337 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.