Lexus Is 250 -L MOT pass rate & common failures
The Lexus Is 250 -L appears in 1,019 MOT tests spanning model years 2005–2012, and 83.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the Is 250 -L comes out 10.2pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.1%) and brakes (7.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 53 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.6% in the 30-60k band and 22.0% in the 150k+ band, a 9.4-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Is 250 -L model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 55 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Visibility |
| 2006 | 386 | 80.6% | 19.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 317 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 167 | 85.6% | 14.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 62 | 82.3% | 17.7% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.6% | 77 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 44 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 34 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.9% | 30 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 17 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 5 |
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 | 53 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 35 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 31 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 28 |
| 6 | Wipers | 26 |
| 7 | Catalyst emissions | 23 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 23 |
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 | 25.9% | 264 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 229 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.6% | 139 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.5% | 97 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 82 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 77 |
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 | 127 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 231 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 290 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 251 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 109 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 220 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 205 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 202 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 200 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 192 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Is 250 -L
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.6% 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 (4.3% 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 250 -L?
83.3% of the 1,019 Lexus Is 250 -L MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 16.7% fail rate, across model years 2005–2012.
What does the Lexus Is 250 -L most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, then brakes (7.6%).
How much does mileage affect Is 250 -L MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.6% for cars in the 30-60k band and 22.0% for 150k+, a 9.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,019 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.