Used car guide

2011 Lexus RX450H: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Lexus RX450Hs, from 1,650 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,650MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
7,900typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Lexus RX450Hs than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    23.2% All 2011 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 2.3% of all 2011 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.

  • Sidelights2.1× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    12.1% All 2011 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.5%, against 5.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Corroded fuel pipes13× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    3.9% All 2011 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2011 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.1× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    5.7% All 2011 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.6% of all 2011 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.

  • Wheel bearings2.3× usual
    Lexus RX450H
    4.2% All 2011 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.7% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

Better than most

Coil springs: 1.7% here, against 10.3% of all 2011 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 1.8% here, against 6.1% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Lexus RX450H MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% 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
    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.

  • 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    7% 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 RX450H?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20121,045Suspension 35%
20102,413Suspension 41%
20091,104Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Lexus RX450Hs registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score