2010 Lexus Is220 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,380 MOT tests, the 2010 Lexus Is220 recorded an 80.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 313 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.0% versus 11.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 375 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 280 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 157 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 149 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 95 |
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 | 313 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 242 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 224 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 155 |
| 5 | Wipers | 143 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 135 |
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 | 30.0% | 1,313 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.2% | 1,279 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.3% | 584 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 412 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 376 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 205 |
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 | 270 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,039 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,339 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,079 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 637 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,317 | 19.6% |
| Petrol | 61 | 11.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 975 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 962 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 906 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 817 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 720 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Is220
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 2010 Lexus Is220s pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 4,380 2010 Lexus Is220 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Lexus Is220?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by brakes (8.6%).
Does the 2010 Is220 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 30-60k band to 24.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,380 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.