Used car guide

2009 Lexus RX450H: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Lexus RX450Hs, from 1,104 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,104MOT tests in 2025
75%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
7,900typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Lexus RX450Hs than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    21.6% All 2009 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 2.3% of all 2009 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.

  • Shock absorbers1.8× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    13.7% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Corroded fuel pipes8.2× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    4.9% All 2009 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Coil springs: 2.4% here, against 12.4% of all 2009 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 2.2% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Lexus RX450H MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% 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
    28% 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
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Lexus RX450H?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20121,045Suspension 35%
20111,650Suspension 41%
20102,413Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Lexus RX450Hs registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score