Lexus Rx350: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Lexus Rx350 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 2.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 770 individual Lexus Rx350 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 73.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 26 in every 100 Lexus Rx350s 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 Rx350 tested had covered 109,817 miles and was built around 2007.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Lexus Rx350 sits 2.8 points below the national average, ranked 1,649 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 Rx350 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 Rx350s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Lexus Rx350

1. 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, 3.3% of tests (3.45x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.5% of tests (2.7x the national rate for this defect)
3. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 3.3% of tests (2.55x the national rate for this defect)
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.2% of tests (2.43x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.9% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.1% of tests
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.5% of tests
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.8% of tests
9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.8% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.7% of tests

From 768 DVSA-tracked Lexus Rx350 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.83% of these flagged Lexus Rx350 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Lexus Rx350

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 Rx350 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, 5.6% of tests (5.06x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 5.2% of tests (4.19x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 21.4% of tests (3.84x the national rate for this advisory)
4. 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, 5.7% of tests (3.77x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 18.9% of tests (3.65x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 46% of tests (3.44x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.9% of tests (2.43x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 5.2% of tests (1.96x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 22.4% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this advisory)
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 14.8% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this advisory), also fails

From 768 DVSA-tracked Lexus Rx350 tests, 2024.

Lexus Rx350 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 Rx350 year:

• 2006 Lexus Rx350 - 73.9% first-time pass, 291 tests
• 2007 Lexus Rx350 - 75.4% first-time pass, 297 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

• Fiat Motorhome - 74%
• Renault R5 - 74%
• SEAT Toledo - 73.9%
• Ford Grand C-Max - 73.8%
• Toyota Avensis - 73.7%
• Kia Soul - 73.7%

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