2008 Lexus Gs450H — MOT failures & pass rate
1,978 MOT tests on the 2008 Lexus Gs450H are in this dataset, and 84.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 10.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests against 5.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 78 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.5% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 180 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 103 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 99 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 74 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 48 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 47 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 78 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 73 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 69 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 66 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 61 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 43 |
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 | 22.4% | 442 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 395 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.8% | 372 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 182 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.7% | 132 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 104 |
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 | 47 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 190 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 397 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 561 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 479 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 302 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,708 | 15.7% |
| Other | 92 | 18.5% |
| Electric | 89 | 12.4% |
| Petrol | 88 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 432 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 418 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 407 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 391 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 330 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Gs450H
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.2% 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.
- Brakes (5.0% 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.
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 2008 Lexus Gs450Hs pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 1,978 2008 Lexus Gs450H MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Lexus Gs450H?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.2%).
Does the 2008 Gs450H get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,978 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.