2008 Lexus Rx400H — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,766 MOT tests, the 2008 Lexus Rx400H recorded an 83.5% pass rate. That is 9.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and suspension (7.0%) 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 tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 655 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.9% in the 0-30k band and 21.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 4.5pp more often than other ones (16.7% vs 12.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,100 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 821 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 672 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 498 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 394 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 217 |
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 | 655 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 336 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 288 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 285 |
| 5 | Wipers | 274 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 258 |
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 | 39.7% | 4,674 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.2% | 2,961 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 2,628 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.5% | 1,707 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 1,311 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 1,055 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 34 | 2.9% |
| 30-60k | 376 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,769 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,538 | 14.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,230 | 17.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,819 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 10,326 | 16.7% |
| Other | 515 | 12.2% |
| Electric | 486 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 425 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,388 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 2,431 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 2,410 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 2,310 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 2,227 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Rx400H
On a 2008 Rx400H, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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 (5.7% 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 Rx400Hs pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 11,766 2008 Lexus Rx400H MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Lexus Rx400H?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 2008 Rx400H get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,766 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.