2004 Lexus Ls430 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,477 MOT tests, the 2004 Lexus Ls430 recorded an 83.5% pass rate. That is 11.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.0%) and lighting & signalling (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 60 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 20.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.0% | 118 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 99 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 76 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.0% | 59 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 58 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 35 |
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 | 60 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 51 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 40 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 38 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 32 |
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 | 26.7% | 395 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.9% | 324 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.2% | 298 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 196 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 91 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.1% | 90 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 84 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 249 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 408 | 14.7% |
| 120-150k | 334 | 16.5% |
| 150k+ | 397 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 324 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 302 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 298 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 295 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 258 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Ls430
On a 2004 Ls430, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.1% 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 2004 Lexus Ls430s pass their MOT?
83.5% of the 1,477 2004 Lexus Ls430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Lexus Ls430?
Brakes, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.7%).
Does the 2004 Ls430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 30-60k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,477 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.