Executive car · 2007–2021 cars
Lexus ES reliability
The Lexus ES fails 6.9% of first MOT tests, 52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 5,297 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Lexus ES before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 6.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 52% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 5,297
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,700
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Lexus ES ages
Each point is the share of Lexus ESs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Lexus ES | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7.7% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 5.5% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 6.1% | 16.4% |
By year
The best and worst Lexus ES years
2019 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
Common problems
What fails most on a Lexus ES
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres4%18% below avg
- Lights and electrics1.3%65% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.1%67% below avg
- Brakes0.4%84% below avg
- Suspension0.2%82% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.1%84% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.1%60% below avg
- Wheels0%81% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0%96% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.23% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.96% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.72% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.53% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Headlamp aim set too low 0.4% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 6
Tyre pressure monitoring system faulty 0.21% of tests
A faulty tyre pressure monitor cannot warn about low tyre pressure, so check tyres manually and have the fault diagnosed.
- 7
Headlamp aim set too high 0.17% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 8
Shock absorber serious fluid leak 0.15% of tests
A shock absorber leaking heavily has likely lost its damping, so the car will handle and brake less safely.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Lexus ES's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit8.59%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.23%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit1.51%
- Tyre has a shallow cut1.47%
- Brake disc pitted or scored1.36%
- Nail in tyre, monitor1%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Lexus ES
- 1
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Lexus ES covers about 9,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Hybrid99.3%
- Petrol0.7%
Most common colours
Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, White
Average engine size: 2.5 litres.
Compare
How the Lexus ES compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Audi RS4 | 15% | 60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW M6 | 10.5% | 59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW Alpina | 16.1% | 54% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus ES | 6.9% | 52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi S5 | 16.9% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus RC | 9.6% | 43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi Allroad | 27.8% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Lexus models.
Questions
Lexus ES questions, answered
Is the Lexus ES reliable?
On MOT results, the Lexus ES is better than average: it fails 6.9% of first MOT tests, 52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 6 of 40 executive car models in our index.
What fails most on a Lexus ES MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Lexus ES are tyre ply or cords exposed (1.23% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (0.96% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (0.72% of tests). By area, tyres fails 4% of its tests.
Which Lexus ES year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2019 cars do best (60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Lexus ES do a year?
A typical Lexus ES covers about 9,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Lexus ES before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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