2005 Lexus Rx400 H -L — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 295 MOT tests, the 2005 Lexus Rx400 H -L recorded an 82.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Rx400 H -L comes out 10.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and brakes (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 90-120k cars fail, rising to 21.6% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.2% in 2021 to 10.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 25 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 19 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 9 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 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 | 17 |
| 2 | Wipers | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 10 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 9 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 9 |
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 | 41.4% | 122 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.5% | 96 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.0% | 59 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 56 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.0% | 50 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 39 | 12.8% |
| 120-150k | 99 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 139 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 68 | 17.6% |
| 2023 | 68 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 45 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 37 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Rx400 H -L
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Suspension (6.4% 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 Rx400 H -Ls pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 295 2005 Lexus Rx400 H -L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Rx400 H -L?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2005 Rx400 H -L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 90-120k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 295 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.