2005 Lexus Gs430 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 751 MOT tests, the 2005 Lexus Gs430 recorded an 83.0% pass rate. That is 10.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 20.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.1% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.0% | 60 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 54 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 40 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.8% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 33 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 24 |
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 | 41 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 25 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 22 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 22 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 21 |
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 | 22.4% | 168 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 157 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.8% | 141 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 68 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 47 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 43 |
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 | 68 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 182 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 206 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 142 | 17.6% |
| 150k+ | 142 | 20.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 167 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 154 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 138 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 121 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Gs430
On a 2005 Gs430, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Gs430s pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 751 2005 Lexus Gs430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Gs430?
Brakes, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.2%).
Does the 2005 Gs430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 30-60k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 751 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.