2006 Lexus Is 250 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Lexus Is 250 passed 78.8% of its 480 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.7% of all tests — 6.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 45 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.9% in the 60-90k band and 25.5% in the 150k+ band, a 7.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 80 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 48 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 29 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.0% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 14 |
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 | 45 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 43 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 17 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.9% | 134 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.7% | 128 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.1% | 82 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 53 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.4% | 50 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 48 |
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 | 78 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 137 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 144 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 94 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 111 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 102 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 103 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 91 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 73 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Is 250
On a 2006 Is 250, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 (6.0% 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 2006 Lexus Is 250s pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 480 2006 Lexus Is 250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Is 250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by brakes (10.0%).
Does the 2006 Is 250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 60-90k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 480 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.