2017 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,283 MOT tests, the 2017 Lexus Is recorded a 92.7% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 11.6% of the time, so this is 4.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.4% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 174 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Is fails 5.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 449 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 179 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 166 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 87 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 17 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 174 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 139 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 85 |
| 4 | Headlamp cleaning device | 57 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 42 |
| 6 | Washers | 35 |
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 | 22.2% | 1,840 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.1% | 589 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.6% | 298 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 237 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 85 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 47 |
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 | 1,937 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,551 | 7.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,681 | 9.3% |
| 90-120k | 660 | 9.1% |
| 120-150k | 255 | 7.4% |
| 150k+ | 199 | 7.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 8,158 | 7.3% |
| Petrol | 124 | 7.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,640 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 1,676 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 1,666 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 1,647 | 7.3% |
| 2025 | 1,654 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Is
On a 2017 Is, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.0% 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 2017 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 8,283 2017 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.2%).
Does the 2017 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 7.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,283 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.