2006 Lexus Is220 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,277 MOT tests, the 2006 Lexus Is220 recorded a 79.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 6.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.3% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 519 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 22.9% versus 9.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 898 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 681 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 406 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 234 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 219 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 165 |
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 | 519 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 429 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 377 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 339 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 219 |
| 6 | Wipers | 190 |
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 | 33.4% | 2,095 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.3% | 1,903 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.9% | 1,312 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 1,016 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.0% | 628 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 471 |
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 | 114 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 598 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,719 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,003 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,839 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,133 | 20.7% |
| Petrol | 144 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,986 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 1,563 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 1,203 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 892 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 633 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Is220
On a 2006 Is220, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.8% 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.
- 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 2006 Lexus Is220s pass their MOT?
79.3% of the 6,277 2006 Lexus Is220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Is220?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.8%).
Does the 2006 Is220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 30-60k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,277 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.