1999 Lexus Ls400 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Lexus Ls400 passed 81.5% of its 696 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 1999 Ls400 comes out 7.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and suspension (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Ls400 fails 21.4% of the time in the 60-90k band and 21.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 64 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 59 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 55 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 24 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.2% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 37 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 36 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 33 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
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 | 38.1% | 265 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 149 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 143 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 93 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 91 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 82 |
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 | 56 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 124 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 124 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 361 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 172 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 159 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 137 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 119 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 109 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Ls400
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.5% 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 (7.9% 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
How many 1999 Lexus Ls400s pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 696 1999 Lexus Ls400 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Lexus Ls400?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (8.5%).
Does the 1999 Ls400 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 60-90k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 696 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.