2006 Lexus Gs300 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,755 MOT tests on the 2006 Lexus Gs300 are in this dataset, and 80.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 7.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.2%) and brakes (9.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 184 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 23.6% versus 8.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 308 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 264 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 153 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 131 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.6% | 127 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 81 |
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 | 184 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 125 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 107 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 105 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 104 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 99 |
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 | 24.1% | 664 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.9% | 658 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.4% | 562 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 323 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 276 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 191 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 213 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 645 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 764 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 697 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 406 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 610 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 590 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 559 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 520 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 476 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Gs300
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.5% 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 2006 Lexus Gs300s pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 2,755 2006 Lexus Gs300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Gs300?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by brakes (9.6%).
Does the 2006 Gs300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 30-60k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,755 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.