Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Lexus Rx450h?

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 Rx450h?

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 Rx450h?

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 Rx450h vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 Rx450h reliable?

Based on MOT data from 226 vehicles, the 2008 Lexus Rx450h has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.6%, 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 Rx450h?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Lexus Rx450h are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (49.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (49.1% of vehicles), Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (45.7% 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 Rx450h?

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 Rx450h (2008)

226 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.6% first-time pass rate

2008 Lexus Rx450h

CarHunch analysed 226 real MOT records for the 2008 Lexus Rx450h. 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 2008 Lexus RX450h passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.6% of the time, marginally better than the UK average of 80%, but the real concern is that 38.9% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significantly elevated figure that suggests electrical or safety system issues warrant close inspection before purchase. With nearly 96,000 miles as the median, these are well-used family SUVs, and the average 3.01 failures per vehicle reflects the cost of age and mileage on a complex hybrid powertrain. The genuinely high advisory count of 22.9 per vehicle tells you these cars accumulate wear: expect routine expenditure on suspension, brakes, and trim components rather than catastrophic failures. If you're considering one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus specifically on the hybrid battery health, brake wear, and any history of electrical warnings, since the high dangerous-defect rate suggests those systems are the weak point.

We have limited data for the 2008 Lexus Rx450h — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

82.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.01

Over 16.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

96k

Middle half: 80k–115k

For context

These stats describe 226 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 226 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 49.1%

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

Other issues 45.7%

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

Brake wear 37.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Suspension & steering 31.1%

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 · Offside 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.

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 226 Lexus Rx450h cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Lexus Rx450h

Based on MOT data from 226 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.9% 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) (36%)	82	81.8%	3.33
Electric (24%)	54	82.5%	3
Petrol (22%)	50	83.9%	2.6

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,945 Lexus Rx450h vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 30.1%

2,388

Silver 21.3%

1,689

Grey 17.8%

1,411

White 12.4%

986

Blue 12%

957

Red 5.6%

448

Bronze 0.3%

Beige 0.3%

Gold 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Lexus Rx450h 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.

95,555

typical

79,658

low mileage

115,462

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Lexus Rx450h vehicles fall between 79,658 and 115,462 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 79,658 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.

✓ 79,658–115,462 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Lexus Rx450hs sit.

⚠ Over 155,873 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 Rx450h — Still on the Road

Most 2008 Lexus Rx450hs are still being driven.

160 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 75% of the peak remain.

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

16.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.01

Avg failures per vehicle

22.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Lexus Rx450h: All Rx450h years → Which year to buy? →

2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Lexus →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Lexus Rx450h stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing