2009 Lexus Is250C — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 791 MOT tests, the 2009 Lexus Is250C recorded an 85.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.5% of the time, so this is 10.4pp 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 (6.2%) and tyres (5.3%) 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 wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 30 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.4% once past 120-150k — 2.8× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 49 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 42 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 37 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 24 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 8 |
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 | 30 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 26 |
| 3 | Wipers | 23 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 11 |
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 | 30.3% | 240 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.9% | 173 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 76 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 74 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.2% | 65 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 38 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 196 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 306 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 194 | 14.9% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 155 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 163 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 163 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 157 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 153 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Is250C
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.3% 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 (4.7% 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 2009 Lexus Is250Cs pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 791 2009 Lexus Is250C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Lexus Is250C?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2009 Is250C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 30-60k band to 31.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 791 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.