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. On a Lexus Rx300 bought as a 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 what damaged Lexus Rx300s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Lexus Rx300

1. ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction, 1.2% of tests (7.88x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 1.8% of tests (6.43x 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, 4.4% of tests (5.26x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 1.8% of tests (3.99x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.1% of tests (3.19x the national rate for this defect)
6. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.6% 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, 2.9% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.2% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.5% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.8% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this defect)

From 5,268 DVSA-tracked Lexus Rx300 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.54% of these flagged Lexus Rx300 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Lexus Rx300 pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. 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

Embed this data

Run a site about the Lexus Rx300? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/lexus-rx300"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/lexus-rx300.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Lexus Rx300 MOT Pass Rate: 72.3% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate