2008 Lexus Ls — MOT failures & pass rate
274 MOT tests on the 2008 Lexus Ls are in this dataset, and 83.9% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 Ls comes out 10.3pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.9%) and lighting & signalling (5.8%) 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 tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 21 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.3% in the 60-90k band and 13.9% in the 150k+ band, a 6.4-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.9% | 19 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 16 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 15 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 14 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 8 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 5 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 4 | Wipers | 7 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 6 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 6 |
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 | 26.6% | 73 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.6% | 70 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.9% | 49 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 22 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 13 |
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 | 69 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 69 | 11.6% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 53 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 56 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 54 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 56 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Ls
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% 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.
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 2008 Lexus Lss pass their MOT?
83.9% of the 274 2008 Lexus Ls MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Lexus Ls?
Brakes, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.8%).
Does the 2008 Ls get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 60-90k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 274 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.