2007 Lexus Is220 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Lexus Is220 passed 79.6% of its 9,508 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests against 9.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 794 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 30-60k band and 22.8% in the 150k+ band, a 11.8-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.5% 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 | 13.9% | 1,322 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 905 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 631 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 368 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 323 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 233 |
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 | 794 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 609 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 572 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 509 |
| 5 | Wipers | 304 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 300 |
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 | 32.5% | 3,091 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.1% | 2,956 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.2% | 2,019 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 1,457 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 1,160 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 695 |
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 | 192 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,081 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,868 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,987 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,374 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,291 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 217 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,784 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 2,276 | 19.2% |
| 2023 | 1,894 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 1,463 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 1,091 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Is220
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.5% 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 (6.6% 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 2007 Lexus Is220s pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 9,508 2007 Lexus Is220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Lexus Is220?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by brakes (9.5%).
Does the 2007 Is220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 30-60k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,508 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.