Used car guide

2005 Lexus RX400H: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Lexus RX400Hs, from 614 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

614MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
7,500typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Lexus RX400Hs than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.4× usual
    Lexus RX400H
    25.2% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2.3% of all 2005 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.

  • Brake discs1.7× usual
    Lexus RX400H
    24.1% All 2005 cars
    13.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 1% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Sub-frame2.4× usual
    Lexus RX400H
    16% All 2005 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints3.4× usual
    Lexus RX400H
    5.4% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 6.5% here, against 14.5% of all 2005 cars. Coil springs: 4.9% here, against 10.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Lexus RX400H MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    35% 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.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    14% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Lexus RX400H?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20091,001Suspension 48%
20081,884Suspension 49%
20071,981Suspension 49%
20061,320Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Lexus RX400Hs registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score