2014 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Lexus Is passed 90.3% of its 16,908 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.8 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.3%) and lighting & signalling (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 442 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.2% in the 0-30k band and 9.4% in the 150k+ band, a 5.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.3% of the time against 9.8% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,071 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 691 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 357 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 318 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 109 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 55 |
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 | 442 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 357 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 344 |
| 4 | Wipers | 292 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 241 |
| 6 | Washers | 122 |
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 | 22.6% | 3,821 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 2,169 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 789 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 572 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 497 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 161 |
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 | 720 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,503 | 7.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,148 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,191 | 12.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,625 | 12.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,719 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 15,700 | 9.8% |
| Petrol | 1,144 | 8.3% |
| Other | 64 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,412 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 3,470 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 3,382 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 3,382 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 3,262 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Is
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2014 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 16,908 2014 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.1%).
Does the 2014 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,908 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.