2010 Lexus Rx450H — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Lexus Rx450H passed 85.0% of its 13,952 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 9.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.3%) and suspension (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and linkage ball joint dust cover — position lamp alone was recorded 1,043 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.4% versus 3.6%.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 1.6pp more often than other ones (15.1% vs 13.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 1,161 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 1,028 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 623 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 404 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 401 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 86 |
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 | 1,043 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 334 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 291 |
| 4 | Wipers | 282 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 278 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 277 |
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 | 32.6% | 4,550 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.4% | 3,410 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.9% | 2,356 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.5% | 1,466 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 678 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 570 |
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 | 56 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 904 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,303 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,607 | 15.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,131 | 16.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,950 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 12,369 | 15.1% |
| Other | 660 | 13.5% |
| Electric | 478 | 13.0% |
| Petrol | 431 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,769 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 2,788 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 2,832 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 2,781 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 2,782 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Rx450H
On a 2010 Rx450H, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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.
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2010 Lexus Rx450Hs pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 13,952 2010 Lexus Rx450H MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Lexus Rx450H?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2010 Rx450H get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,952 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.