1996 Lexus Gs300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Lexus Gs300 passed 82.4% of its 301 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.3%) and lighting & signalling (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake discs and service brake performance — wipers alone was recorded 10 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 24.7% versus 15.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.5% in 2021 to 13.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.3% | 22 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 21 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 20 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 14 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 10 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 10 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 9 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 8 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 8 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 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 | Suspension | 29.9% | 90 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.2% | 82 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 81 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.6% | 74 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.9% | 63 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.0% | 27 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 58 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 66 | 13.6% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 24.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 68 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 60 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 48 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 44 | 13.6% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Gs300
On a 1996 Gs300, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (7.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1996 Lexus Gs300s pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 301 1996 Lexus Gs300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Lexus Gs300?
Brakes, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.0%).
Does the 1996 Gs300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 60-90k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 301 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.