2020 Lexus Es — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,263 MOT tests, the 2020 Lexus Es recorded a 94.9% pass rate. That is 4.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.2%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and visibility (1.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 54 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 9.7% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 139 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.5% | 50 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 30 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.4% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 7 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 54 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 43 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 13 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 7 |
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 | 18.4% | 601 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.9% | 126 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 101 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 100 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 16 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 15 |
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 | 1,421 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,175 | 6.4% |
| 60-90k | 418 | 5.7% |
| 90-120k | 167 | 7.2% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 3.9% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 83 | 3.6% |
| 2023 | 1,132 | 4.8% |
| 2024 | 1,047 | 5.8% |
| 2025 | 995 | 4.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Es
On a 2020 Es, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 (1.5% 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
How many 2020 Lexus Ess pass their MOT?
94.9% of the 3,263 2020 Lexus Es MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Lexus Es?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (1.5%).
Does the 2020 Es get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,263 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.