2008 Lexus Is 250 — MOT failures & pass rate
284 MOT tests on the 2008 Lexus Is 250 are in this dataset, and 83.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Is 250 comes out 10.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.6% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.3% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.1% in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 30 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 18 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 9 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 6 |
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 | 23 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Wipers | 14 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 8 |
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 | 28.5% | 81 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.0% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 37 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 31 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.5% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 17 |
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 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 111 | 13.5% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 57 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 60 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 57 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 48 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Is 250
On a 2008 Is 250, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.3% 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.
- Brakes (5.6% 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.
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 2008 Lexus Is 250s pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 284 2008 Lexus Is 250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Lexus Is 250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by tyres (6.3%).
Does the 2008 Is 250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 60-90k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 284 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.