US man buys $115,000 rare Lexus for $2,000 but then says he's been failed by the state of Massachusetts after it doesn't pass inspection due to one small snag
Published on Apr 09, 2026 at 4:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 09, 2026 at 4:37 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Imagine buying a rare Lexus car for just $2,000, when it should have cost over $100,000, only for the state of Massachusetts to fail it after a small snag was found.
That is exactly what has happened to YouTuber Rich Rebuilds, who bought a luxury Lexus LS 600hL for just $2,000 after claiming it needed an $8,000 battery replacement.
Yet it turns out that wasn’t the case, and more problems required fixing.
As we see in the video, one minor failure in the car could have led to some serious trouble in the state of Massachusetts.
This is what was wrong with the Lexus LS600hL
According to Rich Rebuilds, the dealer stated that the luxury car needed a new battery for the hybrid system.
This should have cost $8,000.
However, after an inspection, it turned out that the battery worked fine.
More digging was thus required to get the car back on the road again.
In the end, it turned out to be a failed electronic parking brake.
With this component broken, the car can’t pass state inspection in Massachusetts.
Later in the video, Rich and his team attempted to get the new parking brake on, but it wasn’t easy.
“After several more hours of configuring and fighting with this stupid thing, the new parking brake finally worked,” said Rich.
It’s this one part that caused the car to be failed by the state.
Why this failure perplexed Rich Rebuilds
According to Rich, this failure gave the Lexus a rejection sticker.
That, however, could lead to further repercussions for the owner if they were caught driving it.
“In Massachusetts, driving with a rejection sticker is actually illegal,” he said.
“You can get fined, and in some cases, they could suspend your license.
All because of a stupid parking brake design,” Rich added.
Rich said that this is a poor design and a known fault with Lexus cars of this era.
Supercar Blondie has approached Lexus for comment on the part.
In the end, fixing the Lexus cost $9,925.
But given the car was just $2,000 and worth $115,000 when new, that feels like a great deal.
Let’s just hope that the handbrake doesn’t fail again.
Lexus timeline
1983: Toyota Chairman Eiji Toyoda initiates Project F1 to build the world’s best luxury car
1989: The Lexus brand officially launches in the US alongside the debut of its flagship LS 400 sedan
1991: Lexus introduces its first sports coupe, the SC 400, and becomes the top-selling luxury import brand in the US
1996: The brand enters the premium SUV market with the debut of the rugged LX 450
1998: The RX 300 is introduced, effectively pioneering the luxury crossover SUV segment
2005: After years of success abroad, Lexus is officially introduced to its home market of Japan
2007: The high-performance ‘F’ marque is established with the launch of the 416hp IS F
2010: Production begins on the legendary LFA, a highly exclusive and acclaimed V10 supercar
2019: The company announces its ‘Lexus Electrified’ vision to shift focus toward hybrid and electric powertrains
2023: The RZ 450e launches as the brand’s first globally available, purpose-built battery electric vehicle
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
