Lexus Rx300: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Lexus Rx300 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 4.4 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 3,406 individual Lexus Rx300 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 72.3% first-time pass rate means roughly 28 in every 100 Lexus Rx300s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Lexus Rx300 tested had covered 119,881 miles and was built around 2004.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Lexus Rx300 sits 4.4 points below the national average, ranked 1,699 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Lexus Rx300 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Lexus Rx300s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Lexus Rx300

1. ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction, 1.7% of tests (8.29x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 2.3% of tests (6.26x the national rate for this defect)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 5.4% of tests (5.73x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 2.4% of tests (4x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 4.3% of tests (3.32x the national rate for this defect)
6. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 3.5% of tests (2.76x the national rate for this defect)
7. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.1% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.9% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.6% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this defect)

From 3,401 DVSA-tracked Lexus Rx300 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.66% of these flagged Lexus Rx300 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Lexus Rx300

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Lexus Rx300 before it actually fails on it.

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 8.6% of tests (7.81x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 7.1% of tests (5.74x the national rate for this advisory)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 8.2% of tests (5.38x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 23.7% of tests (4.59x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 23.6% of tests (4.24x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 48.8% of tests (3.65x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 6.9% of tests (2.62x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 7.4% of tests (2.58x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 19.8% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this advisory)
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 13.5% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this advisory), also fails

From 3,401 DVSA-tracked Lexus Rx300 tests, 2024.

Lexus Rx300 pass rate by model year

From its 2003 to its 2005 model year, the Lexus Rx300's first-time pass rate has risen 1.3 points, from 74.3% to 75.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Lexus Rx300 year:

• 2003 Lexus Rx300 - 74.3% first-time pass, 506 tests
• 2004 Lexus Rx300 - 71.9% first-time pass, 1,183 tests
• 2005 Lexus Rx300 - 75.6% first-time pass, 1,081 tests
• 2006 Lexus Rx300 - 77.8% first-time pass, 261 tests

Other Lexus models

• Lexus Ct - 88.4%
• Lexus Nx - 93.1%
• Lexus Rx - 94%
• Lexus Is - 89.7%
• Lexus Ux - 95.8%
• Lexus Is250 - 80%
• Lexus Rx400h - 76.3%
• Lexus Rx450h - 82.6%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Vauxhall Ampera - 72.5%
• MG Tf - 72.4%
• Toyota Hi-Ace - 72.3%
• Smart Roadster 80 Auto(Rhd) - 72.3%
• Mazda Bongo Friendee - 72.3%
• Ford Mondeo - 72.2%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate