2012 Lexus Is 250 Advance — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Lexus Is 250 Advance passed 87.2% of its 1,351 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 8.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) 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, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 39 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.0% versus 11.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 83 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.4% | 59 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 53 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 46 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 14 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 12 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 35 |
| 3 | Wipers | 33 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 19 |
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 | 25.8% | 348 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 282 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 67 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 56 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 40 |
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 | 53 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 451 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 493 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 269 | 14.5% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 278 | 12.6% |
| 2022 | 269 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 268 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 273 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 263 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Is 250 Advance
On a 2012 Is 250 Advance, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 (3.9% 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
How many 2012 Lexus Is 250 Advances pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 1,351 2012 Lexus Is 250 Advance MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Lexus Is 250 Advance?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by brakes (4.4%).
Does the 2012 Is 250 Advance get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,351 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.