2006 Lexus Ls — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 338 MOT tests, the 2006 Lexus Ls recorded an 84.0% pass rate. That is 11.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.3%) and suspension (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Ls fails 11.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 12.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.4% in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 28 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 22 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 17 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.4% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 4 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Wipers | 14 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 9 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 7 |
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 | 24.0% | 81 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.7% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.7% | 53 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 27 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 23 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 16 |
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 | 84 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 109 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 65 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 50 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 72 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 69 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 64 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 56 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Ls
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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.
- Brakes (5.0% 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 2006 Lexus Lss pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 338 2006 Lexus Ls MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Ls?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by suspension (6.5%).
Does the 2006 Ls get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 60-90k band to 12.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 338 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.