2018 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,793 MOT tests, the 2018 Lexus Is recorded a 93.7% pass rate. That is 4.5 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and visibility (2.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 177 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Is fails 4.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 374 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.2% | 169 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 122 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 71 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 177 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 100 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 77 |
| 4 | Headlamp cleaning device | 40 |
| 5 | Washers | 36 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 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 | 22.5% | 1,753 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 428 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.1% | 242 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 236 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 55 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 30 |
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 | 2,406 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,307 | 7.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,313 | 8.1% |
| 90-120k | 446 | 6.7% |
| 120-150k | 195 | 7.7% |
| 150k+ | 126 | 7.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,567 | 5.4% |
| 2022 | 1,579 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 1,553 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 1,542 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 1,552 | 6.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Is
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Visibility (2.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2018 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 7,793 2018 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by visibility (2.2%).
Does the 2018 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,793 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.