Lexus Es MOT pass rate & common failures
11,845 MOT tests on the Lexus Es (1997–2024) give it a 95.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (9.1% fail rate), the Es comes out 4.6pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.5%) and visibility (1.3%) 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 166 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Es fails 2.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 4.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Es model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3,933 | 95.3% | 4.7% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 3,263 | 94.9% | 5.1% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 2,861 | 96.0% | 4.0% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,289 | 96.6% | 3.4% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 411 | 97.8% | 2.2% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 30 | 100.0% | 0.0% | - |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.5% | 412 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.3% | 157 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 109 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.4% | 45 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 37 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 16 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.0% | 5 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.0% | 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 | 166 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 130 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 113 |
| 4 | Washers | 31 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 30 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 22 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 21 |
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 | 17.1% | 2,026 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.3% | 388 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 326 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 306 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 95 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 41 |
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 | 5,628 | 2.9% |
| 30-60k | 4,139 | 5.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,308 | 5.2% |
| 90-120k | 478 | 6.7% |
| 120-150k | 187 | 5.9% |
| 150k+ | 104 | 6.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 11,798 | 4.4% |
| Petrol | 47 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 2.7% |
| 2022 | 1,187 | 5.5% |
| 2023 | 2,306 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 3,534 | 4.2% |
| 2025 | 4,744 | 4.4% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Es
- Tyres (3.5% 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 (1.3% 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 (0.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lexus Es?
95.5% of the 11,845 Lexus Es MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 4.5% fail rate, across model years 1997–2024.
What does the Lexus Es most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.5% of tests, then visibility (1.3%).
How much does mileage affect Es MOT results?
Fail rates run at 2.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 6.7% for 150k+, a 3.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,845 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.