Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Lexus Nx?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Lexus Nx?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Lexus Nx?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2018 Lexus Nx reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,509 vehicles, the 2018 Lexus Nx has a first-time MOT pass rate of 93.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Lexus Nx?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Lexus Nx are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (31.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Lexus Nx?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Lexus Nx (2018)

4,509 real MOT outcomes analysed • 93.5% first-time pass rate

2018 Lexus Nx

CarHunch analysed 4,509 real MOT records for the 2018 Lexus Nx. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Lexus NX is a genuinely reliable performer, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 93.5%—well above the UK average of 80%—and a low dangerous defect rate of just 9.8%. These results reflect solid engineering across the hybrid-dominant lineup, where the few failures that do occur are minor enough that owners average just 0.41 failures per vehicle.

The median mileage of 35,426 miles is conservative for a six-year-old car, suggesting these are well-maintained examples that haven't been thrashed. The high advisory count of 4.0 per vehicle signals normal wear rather than hidden problems—mostly minor consumables and maintenance items. If you're considering one, budget for routine maintenance but feel confident the fundamentals are sound.

The 2018 Lexus Nx passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (93.5% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

93.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

9.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.41

Over 5.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

35k

Middle half: 27k–46k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 93.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 4,509 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 4,509 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 35.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 16.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 8.8%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Wipers & washers 6.6%

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Suspension & steering 6.5%

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,509 Lexus Nx cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Lexus Nx

Based on MOT data from 4,509 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (100%)	4,499	93.5%	0.41

Colour Breakdown

Based on 29,429 Lexus Nx vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 26.8%

7,901

Black 23.8%

6,995

White 15.6%

4,605

Grey 14.5%

4,254

Red 10.9%

3,200

Blue 7.5%

2,204

Brown 0.4%

106

Orange 0.3%

Green 0.2%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Lexus Nx vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

35,426

typical

26,648

low mileage

46,331

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Lexus Nx vehicles fall between 26,648 and 46,331 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,648 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 26,648–46,331 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Lexus Nxs sit.

⚠ Over 62,546 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Lexus Nx — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Lexus Nxs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 4,133 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 94% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.41

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Lexus Nx: All Nx years → Which year to buy? →

2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Lexus →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Lexus Nx stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?