2012 Lexus Is200 — MOT failures & pass rate
548 MOT tests on the 2012 Lexus Is200 are in this dataset, and 80.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.6%) and lighting & signalling (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and position lamp — brake pads alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k — 3.3× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.7% in 2021 to 16.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.6% | 58 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 46 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.5% | 30 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 28 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 24 |
| 2 | Wipers | 21 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 19 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.4% | 161 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.6% | 151 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.6% | 69 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 32 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 26 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 66 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 168 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 179 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 63 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 117 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 105 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 109 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 115 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 102 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Is200
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 10.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (10.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.5% 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 2012 Lexus Is200s pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 548 2012 Lexus Is200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Lexus Is200?
Brakes, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.4%).
Does the 2012 Is200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 30-60k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 548 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.