2001 Lexus Gs430 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Lexus Gs430 passed 85.1% of its 383 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 2001 Gs430 comes out 12.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.4%) and brakes (8.1%) 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 catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 17 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 60-90k band and 18.9% in the 150k+ band, a 10.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.6% in 2021 to 16.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 36 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 31 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 24 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.7% | 22 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 15 |
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 | 17 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 13 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 11 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 11 |
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 | 36.3% | 139 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.8% | 76 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.0% | 69 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 62 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 55 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 36 |
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 | 36 | 8.3% |
| 90-120k | 130 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 104 | 12.5% |
| 150k+ | 95 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 86 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 78 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 66 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 56 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Gs430
On a 2001 Gs430, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.1% 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 (6.3% 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 2001 Lexus Gs430s pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 383 2001 Lexus Gs430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Lexus Gs430?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by brakes (8.1%).
Does the 2001 Gs430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 60-90k band to 18.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 383 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.