2011 Lexus Is 250 Advance — MOT failures & pass rate
280 MOT tests on the 2011 Lexus Is 250 Advance are in this dataset, and 85.0% of them passed. That is 8.2 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.8%) and brakes (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 13 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.4% versus 12.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 19 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.6% | 13 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 13 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 3 |
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 | 13 |
| 2 | Wipers | 9 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 5 |
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 | 28.9% | 81 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 57 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 26 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 22 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.1% | 20 |
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 | 66 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 96 | 9.4% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 55 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 58 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 57 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Is 250 Advance
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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 (4.6% 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 2011 Lexus Is 250 Advances pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 280 2011 Lexus Is 250 Advance MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Lexus Is 250 Advance?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by brakes (4.6%).
Does the 2011 Is 250 Advance get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 30-60k band to 32.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 280 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.