Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Lexus Rx400h?

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 2008 Lexus Rx400h?

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 2008 Lexus Rx400h?

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.

How many 2008 Lexus Rx400h vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Lexus Rx400h reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,391 vehicles, the 2008 Lexus Rx400h has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Lexus Rx400h?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Lexus Rx400h are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (49.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (49.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (47.2% 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 2008 Lexus Rx400h?

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 Rx400h (2008)

2,391 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84% first-time pass rate

2008 Lexus Rx400h

CarHunch analysed 2,391 real MOT records for the 2008 Lexus Rx400h. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

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.

The 2008 Lexus Rx400h has a decent first-time pass rate (84%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

84%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

36.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.83

Over 16.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 68k–104k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 22.4 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 2,391 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,391 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 49.4%

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

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

Suspension & steering 47.2%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Lower 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.

Other issues 36.8%

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · …

Brake wear 30.7%

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

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 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,391 Lexus Rx400h cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Lexus Rx400h

Based on MOT data from 2,391 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.6% 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) (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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 9,628 Lexus Rx400h vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 32.2%

3,105

Black 24.7%

2,377

Grey 21.8%

2,096

Blue 16.9%

1,623

Beige 2.3%

224

Red 0.7%

White 0.5%

Bronze 0.5%

Gold 0.2%

Green 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Lexus Rx400h 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.

85,734

typical

68,447

low mileage

104,366

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Lexus Rx400h vehicles fall between 68,447 and 104,366 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 68,447 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.

✓ 68,447–104,366 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Lexus Rx400hs sit.

⚠ Over 140,894 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Lexus Rx400h — Still on the Road

Most 2008 Lexus Rx400hs are still being driven.

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.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.83

Avg failures per vehicle

22.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Lexus Rx400h: All Rx400h years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2009

Or browse all models: Lexus →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Lexus Rx400h stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing