Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Lexus Rx?

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 2021 Lexus Rx?

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 2021 Lexus Rx?

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 2021 Lexus Rx reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,690 vehicles, the 2021 Lexus Rx has a first-time MOT pass rate of 97.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Lexus Rx?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Lexus Rx are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (31.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (14.4% 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 2021 Lexus Rx?

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 Rx (2021)

1,690 real MOT outcomes analysed • 97.1% first-time pass rate

2021 Lexus Rx

CarHunch analysed 1,690 real MOT records for the 2021 Lexus Rx. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Lexus RX is exceptionally reliable, with a 97% first-time MOT pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are rare at just 3.8% of vehicles. This is the kind of result you'd expect from a premium Japanese brand with strong build quality.

At an average of 28,447 miles for a three-year-old vehicle, these cars are running low mileage, which partly explains the stellar pass rate but also reflects their premium ownership demographics. When failures do occur they're typically minor—averaging just 0.09 per vehicle—so if you're buying one, focus your inspection on the specific advisories (averaging 1.1 per car, usually routine wear items) rather than worrying about structural or safety problems.

The 2021 Lexus Rx passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (97.1% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

97.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

3.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.09

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

26k

Middle half: 20k–34k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 97.1% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 1,690 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 1,690 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 31.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Other issues 5.6%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Brake wear 3.4%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,690 Lexus Rx cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Lexus Rx

Based on MOT data from 1,690 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3.8% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 18,072 Lexus Rx vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 22.4%

4,047

Silver 21.9%

3,951

Blue 17%

3,068

White 15.5%

2,794

Grey 13.1%

2,367

Red 8%

1,450

Green 1.3%

226

Brown 0.5%

Gold 0.4%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Lexus Rx 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.

26,254

typical

19,573

low mileage

34,409

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Lexus Rx vehicles fall between 19,573 and 34,409 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,573 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.

✓ 19,573–34,409 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Lexus Rxs sit.

⚠ Over 46,452 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.09

Avg failures per vehicle

1.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

Or browse all models: Lexus →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Lexus Rx stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?