2012 Lexus Is250 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,334 MOT tests, the 2012 Lexus Is250 recorded an 89.0% pass rate. That is 10.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and brakes (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 71 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.6% versus 3.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 115 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 89 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 76 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 70 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 23 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 71 |
| 2 | Wipers | 62 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 51 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 43 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
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 | 24.3% | 567 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 459 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 154 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 146 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 95 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 81 |
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 | 127 | 3.1% |
| 30-60k | 829 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 767 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 413 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 139 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 472 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 470 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 477 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 457 | 10.1% |
| 2025 | 458 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Is250
On a 2012 Is250, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.9% 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 (3.8% 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.
- Visibility (3.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2012 Lexus Is250s pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 2,334 2012 Lexus Is250 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Lexus Is250?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by brakes (3.8%).
Does the 2012 Is250 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.1% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,334 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.