2001 Lexus Sc430 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,230 MOT tests, the 2001 Lexus Sc430 recorded an 82.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.0% fail rate), the 2001 Sc430 comes out 9.7pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.3%) and lighting & signalling (7.2%) 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 wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.5% once past 150k — 4.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.3% | 102 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 89 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 69 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 64 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 54 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.2% | 39 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 3 | Wipers | 41 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 37 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 35 |
| 6 | Electronic stability control | 35 |
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 | 23.2% | 285 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.1% | 247 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.8% | 206 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 150 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 127 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.1% | 87 |
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 | 45 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 139 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 345 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 348 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 234 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 117 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 252 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 256 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 253 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 237 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 232 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Sc430
On a 2001 Sc430, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.6% 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 2001 Lexus Sc430s pass their MOT?
82.7% of the 1,230 2001 Lexus Sc430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Lexus Sc430?
Brakes, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.2%).
Does the 2001 Sc430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,230 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.