Know Your MOT
21.9%fail rate

Lexus Is300 common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Lexus Is300 fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 34,980 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 21.9% of MOT tests recorded on the Lexus Is300 in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is tyres, which makes up 30.1% of the Lexus Is300's failures, followed by tyres, lamps & electrical, suspension, brakes. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Tyres30.1% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Lamps & electrical23.8% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Suspension22.9% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Brakes19.2% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Visibility/wipers11.0% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Other6.7% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Failure rate by year

How the MOT failure rate varies by the car's year of first registration (older examples generally fail more as wear sets in).

200124.1% fail · 4,661 tests
200222.8% fail · 12,441 tests
200320.4% fail · 7,993 tests
200422.0% fail · 6,522 tests
200521.9% fail · 1,960 tests
200621.2% fail · 132 tests
201313.4% fail · 186 tests
201419.5% fail · 334 tests
201512.5% fail · 168 tests
20169.6% fail · 219 tests

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the tyres failure: Lexus Is300 tyresSearch Amazon for Lexus Is300 tyresaffiliate searchFind Lexus Is300 tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Lexus Is300 headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Lexus Is300 headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Lexus Is300 headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Lexus Is300 suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Lexus Is300 suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Lexus Is300 suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Lexus Is300 brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Lexus Is300 brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Lexus Is300 brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Lexus Is300 wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Lexus Is300 wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Lexus Is300 wiper blades on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Lexus Is200 MOT failures24.6% failure rateLexus Ct MOT failures13.3% failure rateLexus Rx300 MOT failures21.0% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data · DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain