Used car guide

2003 Lexus RX300: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Lexus RX300s, from 420 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 420 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

420MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
5,700typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Lexus RX300s than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.8× usual
    Lexus RX300
    24.3% All 2003 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 1.8% of all 2003 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.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Lexus RX300
    12.6% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

By area

The share of 2003 Lexus RX300 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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.

  • Brakes
    32% 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
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    9% 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 RX300?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006237Suspension 45%
2005911Suspension 49%
2004963Suspension 52%
2002135Suspension 53%
2001109Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Lexus RX300s registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score