2005 Lexus Is250 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Lexus Is250 passed 80.9% of its 4,427 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Is250 comes out 8.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.6% of all tests — 3.6 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 264 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.1% versus 10.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 513 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 355 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.8% | 301 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 253 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 154 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.7% | 119 |
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 | 264 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 264 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 214 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 179 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 169 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 125 |
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 | 28.0% | 1,238 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 1,147 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.4% | 815 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 558 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 495 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 455 |
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 | 276 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 904 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,477 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,171 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 573 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,388 | 19.1% |
| Diesel | 33 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,012 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 957 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 908 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 822 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 728 | 20.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Is250
On a 2005 Is250, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 (6.8% 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 Is250s pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 4,427 2005 Lexus Is250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Is250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by brakes (8.0%).
Does the 2005 Is250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 30-60k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,427 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.