Lexus Is 300H MOT pass rate & common failures
The Lexus Is 300H appears in 1,168 MOT tests spanning model years 2013–2019, and 90.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 19.5% of the time, so this is 10.0pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (4.9%) 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 tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 31 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.5% versus 2.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Is 300H model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 964 | 90.3% | 9.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 145 | 92.4% | 7.6% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 48 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 59 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 30 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 20 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 4 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 2 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 24 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 15 |
| 5 | Wipers | 14 |
| 6 | Washers | 9 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 7 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 7 |
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 | 21.1% | 246 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.7% | 207 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.8% | 68 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.8% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 51 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 13 |
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 | 34 | 2.9% |
| 30-60k | 166 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 319 | 9.4% |
| 90-120k | 293 | 7.8% |
| 120-150k | 166 | 14.5% |
| 150k+ | 190 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 245 | 11.4% |
| 2022 | 230 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 230 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 236 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 227 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Is 300H
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.6% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lexus Is 300H?
90.5% of the 1,168 Lexus Is 300H MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.5% fail rate, across model years 2013–2019.
What does the Lexus Is 300H most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, then lighting & signalling (4.9%).
How much does mileage affect Is 300H MOT results?
Fail rates run at 2.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.5% for 150k+, a 7.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,168 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.