2005 Lexus Rx400H — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Lexus Rx400H passed 79.2% of its 4,591 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.1%) and suspension (9.2%) 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 component mounting prescribed areas — position lamp alone was recorded 319 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.2% versus 12.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 555 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 420 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 394 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 169 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 165 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 147 |
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 | 319 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 183 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 167 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 148 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 145 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 129 |
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 | 45.6% | 2,096 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.3% | 1,205 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.5% | 1,170 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 728 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.5% | 713 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 619 |
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 | 80 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 307 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 958 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,327 | 20.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,911 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 3,888 | 21.1% |
| Electric | 239 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 231 | 18.6% |
| Other | 224 | 17.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,047 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 1,030 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 940 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 820 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 754 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Rx400H
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.2% 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 (8.6% 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.
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 Rx400Hs pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 4,591 2005 Lexus Rx400H MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Rx400H?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.2%).
Does the 2005 Rx400H get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 30-60k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,591 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.