Executive car · 1997–2021 cars

Lexus IS reliability

The Lexus IS fails 22.6% of first MOT tests, 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 134,671 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 82/100#17 of 40 executive cars

Checking a Lexus IS before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 22.6%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 36% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 134,671; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,800; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Lexus IS ages

Each point is the share of Lexus ISs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Lexus ISAll cars

Lexus IS first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Lexus IS	All cars
3	10.6%	12.3%
4	10.1%	14.1%
5	9.9%	16.4%
6	10.7%	19.1%
7	12.5%	22.1%
8	13.1%	25.5%
9	13.7%	28.8%
10	16%	31.8%
11	19.3%	34.6%
12	22.6%	37.3%
13	23.4%	39.5%
14	27%	41.1%
15	27.6%	42.3%
16	29.3%	42.9%
17	30.7%	43.4%
18	32.3%	43.5%
19	33.4%	43.4%
20	33.2%	42.8%
21	35.1%	41.4%
22	32.3%	40.6%
23	35.1%	38.9%
24	33.4%	37.1%

By year

The best and worst Lexus IS years

2013 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Lexus IS MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2020	930	9.5%	29% fewer fails	29,163
2019 IS	3,113	10.3%	31% fewer fails	38,408
2018 IS	5,101	9.1%	44% fewer fails	42,328
2017 IS	5,522	11.3%	38% fewer fails	47,702
2016 IS	6,819	11.9%	45% fewer fails	58,336
2015 IS	9,598	12.2%	51% fewer fails	68,015
2014 IS	10,788	13.9%	51% fewer fails	79,144
2013 IS	6,067	14.2%	54% fewer fails	81,526
2012 IS	3,023	17.3%	45% fewer fails	69,844
2011 IS	5,173	21.2%	40% fewer fails	82,139
2010 IS	8,082	23.1%	40% fewer fails	90,827
2009 IS	8,819	24.8%	39% fewer fails	100,595
2008 IS	10,346	27.4%	35% fewer fails	107,380
2007 IS	13,537	28.7%	34% fewer fails	114,179
2006 IS	10,901	30.2%	32% fewer fails	116,608
2005 IS	5,858	30.8%	30% fewer fails	109,425
2004 IS	5,498	34%	22% fewer fails	103,636
2003 IS	4,957	33.1%	24% fewer fails	110,217
2002 IS	4,404	34.3%	21% fewer fails	113,763
2001 IS	3,178	33.4%	21% fewer fails	116,749
2000 IS	1,627	36.4%	12% fewer fails	119,463
1999 IS	1,309	34.2%	15% fewer fails	124,459

Common problems

What fails most on a Lexus IS

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics9.6%39% below avg
Tyres6.7%2% below avg
Brakes6%36% below avg
Suspension3.8%70% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.6%38% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.4%50% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.7%70% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.7%61% below avg
Wheels0.5%3% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.75% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.05% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.81% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.58% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
5
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.49% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
6
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.49% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
7
Dipped beam headlamp not working 1.32% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
8
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.17% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Lexus IS's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit14.07%
Brake disc pitted or scored6.57%
Brake pads wearing thin5.92%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.39%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy3.68%
Shock absorber light oil misting3.04%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Lexus IS

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre 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
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
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 IS covers about 8,800 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

Petrol49.3%
Hybrid32.5%
Diesel16.8%
Other1.5%
LPG0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Silver, Black, Blue, Grey, White

Average engine size: 2.4 litres.

Compare

How the Lexus IS compares with its rivals

Lexus IS against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
BMW 6 Series	18.6%	40% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Lexus IS	22.6%	36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo V60	21.6%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz CLK	36.7%	13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo V70	36.2%	12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar XE	17.4%	12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar X-Type	41.8%	about average for its age

Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Lexus models.

Questions

Lexus IS questions, answered

Is the Lexus IS reliable?

On MOT results, the Lexus IS is better than average: it fails 22.6% of first MOT tests, 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 17 of 40 executive car models in our index.

What fails most on a Lexus IS MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Lexus IS are position lamp not working (2.75% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (2.05% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.81% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 9.6% of its tests.

Which Lexus IS year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (54% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Lexus IS do a year?

A typical Lexus IS covers about 8,800 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 IS 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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