2010 Lexus Is250 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Lexus Is250 passed 86.6% of its 6,807 recorded MOT tests. That is 11.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.8%) and brakes (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 257 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.4% in the 0-30k band and 18.9% in the 150k+ band, a 12.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 532 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 350 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 346 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 185 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 107 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 91 |
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 | 257 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 227 |
| 3 | Wipers | 176 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 175 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 173 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 147 |
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 | 26.5% | 1,803 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 1,484 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 658 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 523 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 429 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 325 |
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 | 204 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,321 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,398 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,682 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 770 | 18.6% |
| 150k+ | 428 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,344 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 1,362 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 1,388 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 1,354 | 14.5% |
| 2025 | 1,359 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Is250
On a 2010 Is250, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% 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 (5.1% 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 Is250s pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 6,807 2010 Lexus Is250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Lexus Is250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 2010 Is250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,807 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.