2020 Lexus Ct — MOT failures & pass rate
4,021 MOT tests on the 2020 Lexus Ct are in this dataset, and 94.8% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 3.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and visibility (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 118 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 9.3% once past 90-120k — 2.5× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.2% in 2022 to 5.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 129 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 104 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 78 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 34 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 118 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 74 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 64 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 21 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 20 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 17 |
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 | 21.8% | 878 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 180 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.1% | 164 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 103 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 29 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 13 |
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 | 2,411 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,341 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 215 | 7.0% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 46 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 1,333 | 3.6% |
| 2024 | 1,316 | 5.9% |
| 2025 | 1,325 | 5.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Ct
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.2% 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.
- Visibility (2.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2020 Lexus Cts pass their MOT?
94.8% of the 4,021 2020 Lexus Ct MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Lexus Ct?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2020 Ct get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,021 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.