2001 Lexus Is300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Lexus Is300 passed 77.6% of its 460 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 2001 Is300 comes out 4.7pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.2%) and lighting & signalling (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 30 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.1% in the 60-90k band and 30.6% in the 150k+ band, a 22.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.8% in 2021 to 16.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.2% | 56 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 56 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.2% | 33 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 30 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 25 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 21 |
| 6 | Wipers | 15 |
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 | 33.0% | 152 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.6% | 127 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.3% | 112 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 77 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 60 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 49 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 62 | 8.1% |
| 90-120k | 131 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 143 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 111 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 99 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 97 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 77 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 61 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Is300
On a 2001 Is300, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.2% 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
How many 2001 Lexus Is300s pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 460 2001 Lexus Is300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Lexus Is300?
Suspension, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.2%).
Does the 2001 Is300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 60-90k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 460 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.