2006 Lexus Sc430 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,118 MOT tests on the 2006 Lexus Sc430 are in this dataset, and 84.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 12.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.5%) and brakes (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — shock absorbers alone was recorded 32 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 1.9% in the 0-30k band and 19.5% in the 150k+ band, a 17.6-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.4% in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 73 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 60 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 52 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 41 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 35 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 32 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 26 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 25 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 25 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 6 | Wipers | 23 |
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% | 245 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.3% | 227 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.6% | 186 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 90 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 55 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.5% | 39 |
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 | 53 | 1.9% |
| 30-60k | 319 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 385 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 231 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 86 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 231 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 233 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 220 | 13.2% |
| 2024 | 226 | 16.8% |
| 2025 | 208 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Sc430
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.4% 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 (4.7% 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
How many 2006 Lexus Sc430s pass their MOT?
84.7% of the 1,118 2006 Lexus Sc430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Lexus Sc430?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by brakes (5.4%).
Does the 2006 Sc430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,118 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.