2015 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
15,332 MOT tests on the 2015 Lexus Is are in this dataset, and 91.4% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 14.1% of the time, so this is 5.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and lighting & signalling (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and headlamp — tread depth alone was recorded 319 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 Is fails 5.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.5% of the time against 8.7% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 939 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 527 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 297 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 213 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 61 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 319 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 303 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 267 |
| 4 | Wipers | 263 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 149 |
| 6 | Washers | 82 |
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 | 22.3% | 3,421 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 1,617 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 681 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 484 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 379 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 110 |
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 | 1,038 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,361 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,448 | 9.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,139 | 10.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,079 | 10.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,267 | 7.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 14,666 | 8.7% |
| Petrol | 624 | 8.5% |
| Other | 42 | 2.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,084 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 3,081 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 3,051 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 3,081 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 3,035 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Is
On a 2015 Is, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.9% 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 2015 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 15,332 2015 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 2015 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,332 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.