1997 Lexus Ls400 — MOT failures & pass rate
928 MOT tests on the 1997 Lexus Ls400 are in this dataset, and 78.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.3%) and lighting & signalling (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, ball joint and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 50 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 25.8% versus 12.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.5% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.3% | 96 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 77 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 74 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 45 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 39 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 37 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 49 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 37 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 28 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 28 |
| 6 | Wipers | 26 |
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 | 37.3% | 346 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.8% | 286 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.2% | 252 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 175 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 132 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 87 |
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 | 112 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 159 | 15.1% |
| 120-150k | 220 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 407 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 233 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 193 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 188 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 169 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 145 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Ls400
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.3% 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 (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 1997 Lexus Ls400s pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 928 1997 Lexus Ls400 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Lexus Ls400?
Suspension, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.3%).
Does the 1997 Ls400 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 60-90k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 928 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.