2006 Lexus Rx400 H -L — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 562 MOT tests, the 2006 Lexus Rx400 H -L recorded an 83.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2006 Rx400 H -L comes out 11.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.0%) and brakes (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 34 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Rx400 H -L fails 15.6% of the time in the 60-90k band and 18.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 62 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 43 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 17 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 13 |
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 | 34 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 17 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 15 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 13 |
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 | 38.6% | 217 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.1% | 124 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.9% | 123 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.9% | 78 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 76 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 60 |
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 | 32 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 96 | 13.5% |
| 120-150k | 180 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 236 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 461 | 16.5% |
| Electric | 46 | 13.0% |
| Petrol | 35 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 134 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 119 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 111 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 100 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 98 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Rx400 H -L
On a 2006 Rx400 H -L, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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 (7.6% 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 Rx400 H -Ls pass their MOT?
83.6% of the 562 2006 Lexus Rx400 H -L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Rx400 H -L?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 2006 Rx400 H -L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 60-90k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 562 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.