2005 Lexus Is 250 — MOT failures & pass rate
286 MOT tests on the 2005 Lexus Is 250 are in this dataset, and 82.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Is 250 comes out 9.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests against 8.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Is 250 fails 15.0% of the time in the 60-90k band and 14.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.5% in 2021 to 15.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 39 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 25 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 15 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 13 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.8% | 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 | 27 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 6 | Wipers | 11 |
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 | 24.8% | 71 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 64 |
| 3 | Other defects | 17.1% | 49 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 37 |
| 5 | Suspension | 11.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 32 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 40 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 100 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 64 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 61 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 51 | 13.7% |
| 2025 | 45 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Is 250
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2005 Lexus Is 250s pass their MOT?
82.2% of the 286 2005 Lexus Is 250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Is 250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by brakes (8.7%).
Does the 2005 Is 250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 60-90k band to 14.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 286 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.