2016 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
10,824 MOT tests on the 2016 Lexus Is are in this dataset, and 91.6% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2016 Is comes out 4.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests against 2.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 241 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 Is fails 5.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 655 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 293 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 254 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 164 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 53 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 241 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 215 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 188 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 147 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 109 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 66 |
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 | 23.2% | 2,516 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 993 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.2% | 451 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 315 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 226 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 56 |
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 | 1,468 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,299 | 7.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,600 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,182 | 11.1% |
| 120-150k | 569 | 10.5% |
| 150k+ | 706 | 9.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 10,425 | 8.4% |
| Petrol | 391 | 7.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,168 | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 2,145 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 2,182 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 2,169 | 9.2% |
| 2025 | 2,160 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Is
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.0% 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 (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.4% 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 2016 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 10,824 2016 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 2016 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,824 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.