Lexus Ls400 MOT pass rate & common failures
5,800 MOT tests on the Lexus Ls400 (1990–2021) give it an 80.7% pass rate. That is 5.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.3%) and lighting & signalling (8.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 322 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.6% versus 15.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ls400 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 60 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Suspension |
| 1991 | 98 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 101 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 184 | 83.2% | 16.9% | Suspension |
| 1994 | 228 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Suspension |
| 1995 | 655 | 80.2% | 19.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 698 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Suspension |
| 1997 | 928 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 1,562 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 696 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 549 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 540 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 512 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 401 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 285 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 209 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 203 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.4% | 195 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.7% | 96 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 322 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 289 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 246 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 219 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 204 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 168 |
| 7 | Coil spring | 161 |
| 8 | Wipers | 155 |
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 | 37.0% | 2,148 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.9% | 1,445 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.5% | 1,249 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 888 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 805 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.5% | 493 |
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 | 100 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 197 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 618 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,037 | 16.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,296 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,530 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,459 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 1,240 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 1,174 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 1,021 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 906 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Ls400
- Suspension (9.3% 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 (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
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 Ls400?
80.7% of the 5,800 Lexus Ls400 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.3% fail rate, across model years 1990–2021.
What does the Lexus Ls400 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (8.8%).
How much does mileage affect Ls400 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.6% for 150k+, a 7.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,800 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.