1999 Lexus Gs300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Lexus Gs300 passed 79.7% of its 764 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and ball joint — headlamp aim alone was recorded 46 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 24.8% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 20.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 103 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 75 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 65 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 36 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 28 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 25 |
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 | 46 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 44 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 37 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 30 |
| 5 | Wipers | 27 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 19 |
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 | 37.0% | 283 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.9% | 198 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.3% | 186 |
| 4 | Brakes | 23.8% | 182 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 127 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 95 |
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 | 135 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 222 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 171 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 202 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 219 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 183 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 142 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 122 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 98 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Gs300
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
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 1999 Lexus Gs300s pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 764 1999 Lexus Gs300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Lexus Gs300?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 1999 Gs300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 60-90k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 764 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.