2005 Lexus Is200 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Lexus Is200 passed 77.6% of its 5,003 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Is200 comes out 5.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.0%) and suspension (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 303 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.9% versus 19.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 600 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 546 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 325 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.3% | 316 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 255 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 174 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 303 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 297 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 226 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 201 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 195 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 162 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.7% | 1,388 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.2% | 1,311 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.4% | 1,271 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 794 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 521 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.1% | 507 |
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 | 41 | 19.5% |
| 30-60k | 429 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,214 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,558 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,165 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 594 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,272 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 1,075 | 20.5% |
| 2023 | 995 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 874 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 787 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Is200
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
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 2005 Lexus Is200s pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 5,003 2005 Lexus Is200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Is200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2005 Is200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,003 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.