2000 Lexus Ls400 — MOT failures & pass rate
549 MOT tests on the 2000 Lexus Ls400 are in this dataset, and 80.7% of them passed. That is 7.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.8%) and suspension (9.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and ball joint — headlamp aim alone was recorded 48 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 21.7% versus 14.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.6% 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 | 9.8% | 54 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 54 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 39 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 26 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.5% | 19 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 16 |
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 | 48 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 24 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 24 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 21 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 20 |
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 | 40.6% | 223 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.0% | 121 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.3% | 106 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 73 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 61 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 51 |
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 | 48 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 139 | 18.7% |
| 150k+ | 258 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 123 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 110 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 105 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 85 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Ls400
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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 (7.1% 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 2000 Lexus Ls400s pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 549 2000 Lexus Ls400 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Lexus Ls400?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 2000 Ls400 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 60-90k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 549 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.