2008 Lexus Rx400 H — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Lexus Rx400 H passed 80.2% of its 783 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Rx400 H comes out 6.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and suspension (8.8%) 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 47 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Rx400 H fails 23.5% of the time in the 60-90k band and 22.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 44.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 85 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 69 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 47 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 33 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 15 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 28 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Wipers | 24 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 23 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 22 |
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 | 44.4% | 348 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.8% | 210 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.0% | 188 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.1% | 118 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.9% | 85 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 75 |
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 | 81 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 189 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 251 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 244 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 678 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 39 | 15.4% |
| Electric | 39 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 159 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 160 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 158 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 162 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 144 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Rx400 H
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% 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.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
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 2008 Lexus Rx400 Hs pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 783 2008 Lexus Rx400 H MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Lexus Rx400 H?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.8%).
Does the 2008 Rx400 H get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 60-90k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 783 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.