Used car guide

2012 Lexus RX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Lexus RXs, from 671 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

671MOT tests in 2025
81%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,700typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Lexus RXs than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Lexus RX
    18.3% All 2012 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.1× usual
    Lexus RX
    6.1% All 2012 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 1.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2012 Lexus RX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    32% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    29% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    22% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    16% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    2% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Lexus RX?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,327Tyres 20%
20211,657Tyres 25%
20201,610Tyres 23%
20192,113Tyres 23%
20181,676Tyres 25%
20171,787Tyres 23%
20162,061Tyres 25%
20151,239Tyres 26%
20141,609Tyres 28%
20131,749Suspension 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Lexus RXs registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score