Lexus Rx400h (2008)
2008 Lexus Rx400h
CarHunch analysed 2,391 real MOT records for the 2008 Lexus Rx400h. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2008 Lexus RX400h passes its MOT at 84%, which sits above the UK average of 80%, but that headline hides a serious concern: over a third of these vehicles (36.6%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above what you'd expect and should give any buyer pause. Fuel type makes little practical difference to pass rates across the hybrid, electric, petrol and other variants, all clustering around 84%.
At nearly 90,000 miles on average, these are higher-mileage cars for their age, yet they still rack up 2.8 failures and a hefty 22.4 advisories per test, pointing to cumulative wear on electrics, suspension and trim that owners need to budget for. If you're serious about one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on the hybrid battery condition, braking system history, and any previous dangerous defect flags in its MOT record.
What to check before buying a 2008 Lexus Rx400h
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 36.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Lexus Rx400h
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (46%) | 1,090 | 83.7% | 2.97 |
| Other (19%) | 459 | 84.6% | 2.62 |
| Electric (19%) | 444 | 83.7% | 2.81 |
| Petrol (16%) | 375 | 84% | 2.74 |
| Fuel Cells (0%) | 10 | 83.1% | 3 |
| Diesel (0%) | 7 | 90.6% | 1.71 |
| CNG (0%) | 5 | 90.8% | 1.6 |
| Electric Diesel (0%) | 1 | 68% | 8 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2008 Lexus Rx400h vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2008 Lexus Rx400h vehicles fall between 68,447 and 104,366 miles.
2008 Lexus Rx400h — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 1,800 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 81% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2008 Lexus Rx400h
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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49.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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49.1%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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47.2%
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
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46.4%
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
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44%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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43.1%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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36.8%
Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay
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30.7%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Lexus Rx400h?
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