2018 Lexus Gs — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Lexus Gs passed 94.1% of its 1,369 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 4.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and lighting & signalling (2.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 9.5% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 52 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 27 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 12 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.1% | 2 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 2 | Wipers | 26 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 3 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 3 |
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 | 16.1% | 221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 81 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.2% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 37 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 20 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 6 |
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 | 539 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 529 | 6.0% |
| 60-90k | 169 | 6.5% |
| 90-120k | 56 | 5.4% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 5.9% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 288 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 282 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 268 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 265 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 266 | 6.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Gs
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
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 2018 Lexus Gss pass their MOT?
94.1% of the 1,369 2018 Lexus Gs MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Lexus Gs?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2018 Gs get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,369 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.