Lexus Is250C MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 13 model years and 2,977 tests, the Lexus Is250C passes its MOT 87.6% of the time. That is 11.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 82 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.0% once past 150k — 3.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Is250C model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 791 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 1,060 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Tyres |
| 2011 | 750 | 89.7% | 10.3% | Tyres |
| 2012 | 368 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 150 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 129 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.1% | 122 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 97 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 48 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 23 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 12 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.3% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 82 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 76 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 64 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 46 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 37 |
| 7 | Washers | 32 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 28 |
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 | 26.3% | 783 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.8% | 560 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 211 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.5% | 192 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 177 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 122 |
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 | 221 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,045 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,057 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 483 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 111 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 589 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 599 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 602 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 592 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 595 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Is250C
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.1% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lexus Is250C?
87.6% of the 2,977 Lexus Is250C MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.4% fail rate, across model years 2005–2017.
What does the Lexus Is250C most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, then lighting & signalling (4.3%).
How much does mileage affect Is250C MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 20.0% for 150k+, a 14.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,977 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.