Lexus Ls MOT pass rate & common failures
The Lexus Ls appears in 3,009 MOT tests spanning model years 2006–2022, and 88.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the Ls comes out 9.8pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.3%) and tyres (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 141 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.6% versus 3.3%.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 6.9% fail against 14.2% for petrol, a 7.4-point gap across 2,945 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.0% in 2021 to 11.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ls model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 338 | 84.0% | 16.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 988 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 274 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Brakes |
| 2012 | 51 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Tyres |
| 2013 | 334 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 206 | 88.8% | 11.2% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 125 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 69 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 53 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 376 | 96.3% | 3.7% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 100 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 130 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 127 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 123 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 114 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 64 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.7% | 21 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 19 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 14 |
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 | 141 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 3 | Wipers | 63 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 57 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 50 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 33 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 32 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 30 |
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 | 21.3% | 642 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 471 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 407 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 130 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 124 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 104 |
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 | 449 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 590 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 657 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 588 | 15.0% |
| 120-150k | 420 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 301 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,911 | 14.2% |
| Hybrid | 1,034 | 6.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 594 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 608 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 601 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 608 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 598 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Ls
- 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.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Suspension (4.1% 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.
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 Ls?
88.2% of the 3,009 Lexus Ls MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.8% fail rate, across model years 2006–2022.
What does the Lexus Ls most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, then tyres (4.2%).
How much does mileage affect Ls MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.6% for 150k+, a 11.3-point difference.
Is the hybrid or petrol Ls more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 6.9% of the time against 14.2% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,009 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.