2006 Lexus Ls430 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Lexus Ls430 passed 87.7% of its 424 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 15.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.7%) and emissions & environmental (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Ls430 fails 11.1% of the time in the 60-90k band and 12.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 24 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 21 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 10 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 6 | Electronic stability control | 8 |
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 | 21.9% | 93 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.8% | 71 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.1% | 64 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 53 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 35 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 25 |
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 | 90 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 100 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 101 | 10.9% |
| 150k+ | 116 | 12.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 85 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 82 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 78 | 7.7% |
| 2025 | 81 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Ls430
On a 2006 Ls430, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (5.0% 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.
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 2006 Lexus Ls430s pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 424 2006 Lexus Ls430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Ls430?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.0%).
Does the 2006 Ls430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 60-90k band to 12.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 424 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.