2011 Lexus Is250 — MOT failures & pass rate
4,222 MOT tests on the 2011 Lexus Is250 are in this dataset, and 87.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 23.2% of the time, so this is 10.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.9%) and tyres (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, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 136 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.0% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 250 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.1% | 216 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 205 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 115 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 62 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 54 |
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 | 136 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 101 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 97 |
| 4 | Wipers | 93 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 91 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 77 |
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 | 26.4% | 1,113 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 844 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 295 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.6% | 277 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 232 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 186 |
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 | 172 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,040 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,595 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 967 | 16.1% |
| 120-150k | 321 | 16.5% |
| 150k+ | 127 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 846 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 851 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 842 | 12.5% |
| 2024 | 841 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 842 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Is250
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Brakes (4.9% 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.
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 2011 Lexus Is250s pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 4,222 2011 Lexus Is250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Lexus Is250?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.1%).
Does the 2011 Is250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,222 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.