Lexus Is/220D MOT pass rate & common failures
1,990 MOT tests on the Lexus Is/220D (2005–2011) give it a 79.6% pass rate. That is 6.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.4%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 179 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.5% versus 15.4%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Is/220D model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 499 | 80.4% | 19.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 705 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 527 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 179 | 79.3% | 20.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 73 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 298 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 196 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 130 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 75 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 70 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 52 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 42 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 20 |
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 | 179 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 128 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 127 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 103 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 69 |
| 6 | Wipers | 63 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 43 |
| 8 | Rigid brake pipes | 35 |
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 | 30.3% | 604 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 571 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.6% | 390 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 322 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.1% | 261 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 120 |
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 | 39 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 208 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 529 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 625 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 584 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 611 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 491 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 385 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 295 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 208 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Is/220D
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
- Tyres (6.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lexus Is/220D?
79.6% of the 1,990 Lexus Is/220D MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.4% fail rate, across model years 2005–2011.
What does the Lexus Is/220D most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, then brakes (9.8%).
How much does mileage affect Is/220D MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 24.5% for 150k+, a 9.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,990 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.