Lexus Is300 MOT pass rate & common failures
4,871 MOT tests on the Lexus Is300 (2001–2022) give it an 80.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the Is300 comes out 6.9pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.8%) and suspension (8.8%) 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 component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 269 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.2% in the 0-30k band and 21.8% in the 150k+ band, a 17.6-point spread — more than double.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 10.9% fail against 20.4% for petrol, a 9.5-point gap across 4,835 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.6% in 2021 to 17.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Is300 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 460 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 1,331 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 1,120 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 949 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 376 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 30 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Brakes |
| 2013 | 86 | 84.9% | 15.1% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 155 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 98 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 130 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 61 | 93.4% | 6.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 476 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 427 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 295 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.5% | 266 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 203 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 165 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 127 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 61 |
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 | 269 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 184 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 169 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 145 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 139 |
| 6 | Washers | 131 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 123 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 114 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.1% | 1,321 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.0% | 1,120 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.6% | 1,101 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 566 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 566 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 442 |
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 | 71 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 461 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 998 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,330 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,084 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 927 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,287 | 20.4% |
| Hybrid | 548 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,147 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 1,070 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 966 | 19.5% |
| 2024 | 885 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 803 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Is300
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (6.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lexus Is300?
80.7% of the 4,871 Lexus Is300 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.3% fail rate, across model years 2001–2022.
What does the Lexus Is300 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, then suspension (8.8%).
How much does mileage affect Is300 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.8% for 150k+, a 17.6-point difference.
Is the hybrid or petrol Is300 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 10.9% of the time against 20.4% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,871 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.