2019 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Lexus Is passed 92.6% of its 5,170 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2019 Is comes out 2.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.3% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of visibility, 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 115 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 Is fails 5.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 323 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 118 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 79 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 35 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 9 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 115 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 88 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 33 |
| 5 | Washers | 32 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 15 |
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 | 25.4% | 1,314 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.6% | 289 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.0% | 208 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 181 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 48 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 15 |
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 | 1,784 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,103 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 912 | 8.7% |
| 90-120k | 249 | 11.2% |
| 120-150k | 82 | 11.0% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 7.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 1,337 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 1,321 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 1,218 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 1,238 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Is
On a 2019 Is, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.3% 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 (1.5% 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 2019 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 5,170 2019 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.3%).
Does the 2019 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 7.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,170 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.