2002 Lexus Ls430 — MOT failures & pass rate
965 MOT tests on the 2002 Lexus Ls430 are in this dataset, and 84.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 11.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.4% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and exhaust system — position lamp alone was recorded 56 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 19.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 58 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 48 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 38 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 36 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.3% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 30 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 26 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 25 |
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 | 28.0% | 270 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.2% | 205 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.1% | 146 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.5% | 140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 126 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 114 |
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 | 155 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 255 | 12.6% |
| 120-150k | 218 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 299 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 253 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 206 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 185 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 163 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 158 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Ls430
On a 2002 Ls430, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2002 Lexus Ls430s pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 965 2002 Lexus Ls430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Lexus Ls430?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2002 Ls430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 60-90k band to 19.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 965 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.