2012 Lexus RX450H 3.5L Hybrid electric (clean) · AY55 ADE

A binding front brake caliper and persistent oil misting on an offside rear shock absorber dominate the recorded DVSA history of this 2012 Lexus RX450h, framing the vehicle as one with largely maintained roadworthiness but specific braking and suspension components that have demanded attention. The most recent entry on 12 March 2026 records a clean pass with no advisories, immediately following a failure on 11 March 2026 where the nearside front service brake was recorded as excessively binding, a Major defect under section 1.2.1(f). Prior to this, the car passed each annual test from 2023 through 2025, with the 2023 entry showing no recorded items and the 2024 and 2025 entries carrying the same advisory: light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber. This pattern points to a rear damper that has been seeping for at least two consecutive test cycles without progressing to a failure, alongside a front brake mechanism that became significantly binding within the space of a single day between the failure and the subsequent pass, indicating that a repair or rectification was carried out immediately prior to the retest. At roughly 7,403 recorded miles per year over a 14-year life, this RX450h sits close to the typical annual accumulation for its age, with no significant gaps in the testing record between 2023 and 2026 to suggest extended periods off the road. The continuous annual coverage supports a usage profile of regular, moderate driving rather than long-term storage or exceptionally high motorway mileage. Mechanically, this level of use would be expected to produce steady wear on friction materials, suspension consumables and drivetrain components, which is broadly consistent with the recorded advisories on the rear damper and the binding front brake. The fact that no other components have been flagged across five recorded tests indicates that wear elsewhere, including tyres, emissions, lights and the rear brake assemblies, has remained within MOT thresholds. For a prospective buyer, the binding front brake recorded on 11 March 2026 should be treated as the single most significant item to investigate, even though the car subsequently passed the following day. Binding calipers or a seized slider can recur after a repair, so a careful test drive is essential. From a standing start, the vehicle should pull away without any noticeable pull to one side, and there should be no excessive heat emanating from the nearside front wheel after a short drive, nor any unusual resistance or judder when the brake pedal is released. Listen for any scraping or grinding from the nearside front corner and check for uneven pad wear across the nearside front disc, as a caliper that has bound previously can lead to one inner pad wearing far more rapidly than the outer. It is also worth confirming with the seller exactly what rectification was performed on 11 March 2026, whether it was a caliper overhaul, slider lubrication or a caliper replacement, and requesting any supporting invoice. The recurring advisory on the offside rear shock absorber, present at both the 2024 and 2025 tests, warrants close physical inspection at the rear of the vehicle. Light oil misting can remain stable for some time without functional impairment, but it can also progress to a more serious leak that compromises damping and tyre contact with the road. On a test drive, the RX450h should feel settled and composed over undulating road surfaces and expansion joints, with no excessive float, wallowing through corners, or audible clonking from the rear suspension. With the vehicle parked, a visual check should look for fresh oil residue running down the shock body or pooling on the surrounding underbody components. Beyond these flagged items, the absence of any other recorded advisories over the five tests indicates that the remainder of the braking system, tyres, exhaust, lights, suspension linkages and structural components have all remained within MOT tolerances, leaving the binding caliper repair and the rear damper seep as the principal mechanical priorities to verify before purchase.