2006 Lexus Is250 — MOT failures & pass rate
11,393 MOT tests on the 2006 Lexus Is250 are in this dataset, and 81.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 8.8pp 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 11.9% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 698 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.4% in the 0-30k band and 23.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 1,352 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 978 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 630 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 586 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 362 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.6% | 293 |
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 | 698 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 616 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 574 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 389 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 388 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 335 |
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 | 28.1% | 3,197 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 2,950 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.4% | 1,756 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 1,517 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.1% | 1,148 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 1,085 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 85 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 851 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,738 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,493 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,693 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,533 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,524 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 2,397 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 2,275 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 2,195 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 2,002 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Is250
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% 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 (5.5% 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 Is250s pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 11,393 2006 Lexus Is250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Is250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by brakes (8.6%).
Does the 2006 Is250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,393 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.