2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Lexus RX300 MOT pass rate and common faults

515 MOT tests in 2024. 68.3% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

119Well above average
Passed first time68.3%
Failed or needed repairs31.6%
Typical mileage at test123,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 515 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.2%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction4.9%
  3. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.3%
    15 marked dangerous
  6. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength2.1%
  7. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side2.1%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes18.4%
  2. Lights & electrics15.7%
  3. Suspension11.5%
  4. Emissions & leaks7.8%
  5. Body & chassis4.5%
  6. Tyres4.1%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.5%
  8. Steering1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn21.6%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine20.4%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.0%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Lexus RX300?

In 2024, 68.3% of 2003 Lexus RX300 cars passed their MOT first time, across 515 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Lexus RX300?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2003 Lexus RX300 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 119, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).