2013 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Lexus Is passed 88.0% of its 2,321 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.0 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.0%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.8%) and lighting & signalling (5.3%) 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 tyre pressure monitoring system — headlamp aim alone was recorded 76 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Is fails 7.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.8% | 182 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 122 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 55 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 52 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 21 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 11 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 66 |
| 3 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 54 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 53 |
| 5 | Wipers | 36 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 25 |
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% | 575 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 345 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 140 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 92 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 80 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 28 |
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 | 64 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 559 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 746 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 489 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 264 | 12.9% |
| 150k+ | 199 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2,060 | 12.1% |
| Petrol | 235 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 467 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 467 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 457 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 470 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 460 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Is
On a 2013 Is, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.8% 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 (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.4% 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 2013 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
88.0% of the 2,321 2013 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.3%).
Does the 2013 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,321 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.