2002 Lexus Is300 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Lexus Is300 passed 79.9% of its 1,331 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.2%) and suspension (9.9%) 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 62 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.5% in the 30-60k band and 20.1% in the 150k+ band, a 8.6-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.4% in 2021 to 18.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 136 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.9% | 132 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 88 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.3% | 84 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 59 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 52 |
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 | 62 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 62 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 57 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 45 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 6 | Washers | 38 |
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 | 35.2% | 469 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 309 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.8% | 304 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 188 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 166 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 150 |
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 | 61 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 208 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 375 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 314 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 364 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 333 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 308 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 264 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 224 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 202 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Is300
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.9% 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 (6.6% 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 2002 Lexus Is300s pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 1,331 2002 Lexus Is300 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Lexus Is300?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by suspension (9.9%).
Does the 2002 Is300 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 30-60k band to 20.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,331 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.