2005 Lexus Gs300 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,540 MOT tests, the 2005 Lexus Gs300 recorded an 80.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 8.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.9%) and lighting & signalling (10.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 293 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.7% in the 0-30k band and 22.9% in the 150k+ band, a 14.2-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.9% | 497 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 475 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 324 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 244 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.2% | 192 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 126 |
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 | 293 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 226 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 189 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 183 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 166 |
| 6 | Electronic stability control | 166 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.4% | 1,108 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.4% | 1,061 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.2% | 1,053 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 547 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 379 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 335 |
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 | 46 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 335 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,006 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,408 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,095 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 643 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,050 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 983 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 940 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 822 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 745 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Gs300
On a 2005 Gs300, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (10.9% 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 (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (7.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2005 Lexus Gs300s pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 4,540 2005 Lexus Gs300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Gs300?
Brakes, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.5%).
Does the 2005 Gs300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,540 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.