1996 Lexus Ls400 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Lexus Ls400 passed 79.7% of its 698 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.7% of the time, so this is 4.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.5%) and emissions & environmental (8.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 69 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.2% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 23.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 20.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.5% | 73 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 56 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 56 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.6% | 46 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 36 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 22 |
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 | 69 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 53 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 26 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 24 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 23 |
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 | 35.1% | 245 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.5% | 171 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 155 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.2% | 141 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 88 |
| 6 | Steering | 11.5% | 80 |
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 | 68 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 131 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 132 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 334 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 189 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 152 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 145 | 19.3% |
| 2024 | 108 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 104 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Ls400
On a 1996 Ls400, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (8.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1996 Lexus Ls400s pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 698 1996 Lexus Ls400 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Lexus Ls400?
Suspension, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.0%).
Does the 1996 Ls400 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 60-90k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 698 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.