2005 Lexus Ls430 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,513 MOT tests on the 2005 Lexus Ls430 are in this dataset, and 84.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 12.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.4%) and brakes (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and malfunction indicator lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 54 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 19.2% versus 8.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.6% 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 | 7.4% | 112 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 87 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 72 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 67 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.8% | 57 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 41 |
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 | 54 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 38 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 32 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 32 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 19.6% | 297 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.0% | 287 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.6% | 266 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 120 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 120 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 118 |
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 | 131 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 235 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 379 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 377 | 17.5% |
| 150k+ | 381 | 19.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 356 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 315 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 296 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 278 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 268 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Ls430
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2005 Lexus Ls430s pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 1,513 2005 Lexus Ls430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Lexus Ls430?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by brakes (5.8%).
Does the 2005 Ls430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 30-60k band to 19.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,513 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.