Lexus Is 250 Advance MOT pass rate & common failures
1,631 MOT tests on the Lexus Is 250 Advance (2011–2012) give it an 86.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (22.0% fail rate), the Is 250 Advance comes out 8.8pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and brakes (4.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 46 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.8% versus 12.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Is 250 Advance model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 280 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 1,351 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.4% | 72 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 72 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 59 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 17 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 17 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 8 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 46 |
| 2 | Wipers | 42 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 38 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 32 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 26 |
| 7 | Washers | 22 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 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 | Tyres | 26.3% | 429 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 339 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 93 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 82 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.8% | 78 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 61 |
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 | 62 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 517 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 589 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 323 | 14.2% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 53 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 333 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 324 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 323 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 331 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 320 | 15.3% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Is 250 Advance
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (4.4% 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 (4.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 250 Advance?
86.8% of the 1,631 Lexus Is 250 Advance MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.2% fail rate, across model years 2011–2012.
What does the Lexus Is 250 Advance most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, then brakes (4.4%).
How much does mileage affect Is 250 Advance MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 20.8% for 150k+, a 7.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,631 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.