2007 Lexus Is250 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,942 MOT tests, the 2007 Lexus Is250 recorded an 83.0% pass rate. That is 9.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.4% of all tests — 4.4 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 733 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.7% versus 5.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 1,359 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 834 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 653 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 430 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 374 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.8% | 333 |
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 | 733 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 599 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 571 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 401 |
| 5 | Wipers | 343 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 341 |
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 | 27.4% | 3,273 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.1% | 2,882 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.9% | 1,774 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 1,476 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.3% | 1,351 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 895 |
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 | 130 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,149 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,909 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,926 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,430 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,398 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,850 | 17.0% |
| Diesel | 87 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,530 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 2,481 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 2,446 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 2,319 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 2,166 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Is250
On a 2007 Is250, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 (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 2007 Lexus Is250s pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 11,942 2007 Lexus Is250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Lexus Is250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 2007 Is250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,942 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.