Lexus Is F MOT pass rate & common failures
1,068 MOT tests on the Lexus Is F (2005–2024) give it a 91.6% pass rate. That is 16.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.6%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.5%) and tyres (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Is F fails 9.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Is F model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 349 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 179 | 87.7% | 12.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 206 | 91.8% | 8.3% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 177 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Tyres |
| 2012 | 73 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Tyres |
| 2013 | 53 | 96.2% | 3.8% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 48 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.3% | 35 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 34 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 19 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.9% | 10 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 5 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.4% | 4 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 3 |
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 | 29 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 15 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 13 |
| 4 | Wipers | 11 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 11 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 9 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 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 | 19.6% | 209 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 125 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 70 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.5% | 59 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 44 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 44 |
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 | 44 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 243 | 5.3% |
| 60-90k | 349 | 8.9% |
| 90-120k | 247 | 7.7% |
| 120-150k | 133 | 13.5% |
| 150k+ | 52 | 9.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,037 | 8.2% |
| Diesel | 31 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 210 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 202 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 215 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 218 | 6.4% |
| 2025 | 223 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Is F
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.3% 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 (3.2% 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 F?
91.6% of the 1,068 Lexus Is F MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.4% fail rate, across model years 2005–2024.
What does the Lexus Is F most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.5% of tests, then tyres (3.3%).
How much does mileage affect Is F MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 9.6% for 150k+, a 0.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,068 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.