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What to check: Lexus RX

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Ranked across all years of the Lexus RX, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 18.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 2.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 0.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

A binding brakeAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 0.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 23.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 8.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Check the top of the dashboard and door tops for tackiness or hairline cracks, especially on 2003-2009 cars.Sticky or crumbling trim means the dash is degrading and a full replacement is £1,000+.

On air-suspension cars, watch the ride height after the engine's been off for an hour, and again after a 20-minute drive.A car that sits noticeably lower at the back, or drops further overnight, has an air suspension leak.

Listen at the front of the engine on a cold start for a rumbling or marbles-in-a-tin noise.That's the water pump bearing going, most common on 2009-2015 six-cylinder cars.

On hybrids, ask when the rear brakes were last done and get the rears off during inspection if you can.Seized pins or corroded discs from underuse are common and easy to miss on a quick look.

On hybrids, check the dash for a hybrid system warning light and ask for a battery health printout if the dealer can pull one.A tired hybrid pack at 7-8 years old is a £2,500-3,500 problem, not a fuse.

If the car's been sitting (dealer stock, private seller who doesn't drive it), check it starts cleanly without a jump.A flat 12V battery on a hybrid needs trickle-charging, not jump leads, or you risk the hybrid electronics.

If it has a panoramic sunroof, check for any hairline crack right at the edges of the glass.Sunroof glass can fail suddenly later; an existing chip or crack is a warning sign, not just cosmetic.

Full Lexus RX reliability report