2012 Lexus Ct — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Lexus Ct passed 87.8% of its 22,371 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.3% of the time, so this is 9.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 7.9% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, registration plate lamp(s) and wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 850 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.8% in the 0-30k band and 14.7% in the 150k+ band, a 7.9-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.3% of the time against 12.6% for other.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 1,776 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 1,067 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.0% | 887 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 734 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 476 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 176 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 850 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 723 |
| 3 | Wipers | 550 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 509 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 432 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 412 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.5% | 5,254 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.8% | 4,206 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 2,425 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.8% | 2,416 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 1,556 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 885 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 631 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,989 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 6,782 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 5,670 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,094 | 13.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,197 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 14,884 | 12.3% |
| Other | 3,444 | 12.6% |
| Petrol | 2,248 | 11.3% |
| Electric | 1,739 | 11.8% |
| Gas/LPG | 30 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,436 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 4,432 | 11.0% |
| 2023 | 4,447 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 4,544 | 13.8% |
| 2025 | 4,512 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ct
On a 2012 Ct, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (4.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Lexus Cts pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 22,371 2012 Lexus Ct MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Lexus Ct?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by tyres (4.8%).
Does the 2012 Ct get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 14.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,371 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.