Lexus Sc430 MOT pass rate & common failures
10,513 MOT tests on the Lexus Sc430 (2001–2020) give it an 83.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the Sc430 comes out 10.7pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst Sc430 years
Ranked across Sc430 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2006 cars pass 84.7% of the time while 2004 cars manage 81.6%, a 3.1-point spread.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and brakes (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 351 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.1% in the 0-30k band and 24.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.0-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Sc430 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,230 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 2,157 | 82.4% | 17.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 1,704 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2004 | 1,384 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 1,311 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 1,118 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 949 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 313 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 332 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 732 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 627 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.1% | 537 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 509 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 414 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 346 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 210 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.5% | 52 |
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 | 351 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 305 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 286 |
| 4 | Wipers | 265 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 254 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 224 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 189 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 179 |
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 | 20.7% | 2,178 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.1% | 2,006 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.2% | 1,700 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 1,030 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 531 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 525 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 427 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,060 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,260 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,600 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,369 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 786 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,209 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 2,141 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 2,123 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 2,019 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 2,021 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a Lexus Sc430
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% 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.
- Suspension (5.1% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lexus Sc430?
83.4% of the 10,513 Lexus Sc430 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 16.6% fail rate, across model years 2001–2020.
What does the Lexus Sc430 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, then brakes (6.0%).
Which Sc430 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2006 has the best pass rate at 84.7% and 2004 the weakest at 81.6%, from 1,118 and 1,384 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Sc430 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.1% for 150k+, a 18.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,513 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.