Luxury car · 1996–2021 cars

Lexus LS reliability

The Lexus LS fails 18.9% of first MOT tests, 53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 11,873 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 98/100#5 of 14 luxury cars

Checking a Lexus LS before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 18.9%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 53% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 11,873; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 7,100; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Lexus LS ages

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

Lexus LSAll cars

Lexus LS first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Lexus LS	All cars
12	16%	37.3%
13	10.3%	39.5%
14	14.3%	41.1%
15	17.5%	42.3%
16	18.1%	42.9%
17	20.3%	43.4%
18	19.2%	43.5%
19	26.8%	43.4%
20	18.9%	42.8%
21	20.8%	41.4%
22	23.7%	40.6%
23	23.8%	38.9%
24	24.4%	37.1%
25	23.1%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Lexus LS years

2008 cars come out best and 2007 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Lexus LS MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2018	289	6.6%	50% fewer fails	25,717
2013	294	9.2%	69% fewer fails	67,868
2010	207	11.6%	70% fewer fails	91,432
2009	739	12.2%	70% fewer fails	91,538
2008 LS	1,165	15.5%	64% fewer fails	109,753
2007 LS	1,676	18.8%	56% fewer fails	102,907
2006	629	20.3%	54% fewer fails	107,494
2005	944	20.4%	54% fewer fails	120,857
2004	937	22.4%	50% fewer fails	122,233
2003	640	20.9%	53% fewer fails	126,008
2002	586	22.7%	48% fewer fails	123,107
2001	655	22.4%	48% fewer fails	128,566
2000	464	24.1%	44% fewer fails	150,206
1999	506	25.3%	38% fewer fails	154,816
1998	952	22.8%	43% fewer fails	144,671
1997	254	24.8%	37% fewer fails	144,878

Common problems

What fails most on a Lexus LS

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

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics7.3%62% below avg
Brakes5.8%52% below avg
Suspension5%68% below avg
Tyres3.8%42% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.1%52% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.4%64% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.9%77% below avg
Steering0.8%79% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.5%23% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.17% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.32% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 1.21% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
4
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.19% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.14% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
6
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.07% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
7
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 0.96% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
8
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.88% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.

Most common advisories

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

Tyre worn close to legal limit10.83%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear7.45%
Brake pads wearing thin4.22%
Engine oil leak, not excessive4.15%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy4.05%
Brake disc pitted or scored3.79%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Lexus LS

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
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
4
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
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 LS covers about 7,100 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

Petrol74.6%
Hybrid14.8%
Other8.8%
LPG1.3%
Diesel0.3%
Electric0.1%

Most common colours

Silver, Blue, Black, Grey, Bronze

Average engine size: 4.4 litres.

Compare

How the Lexus LS compares with its rivals

Lexus LS against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Bentley Arnage	11.8%	65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Lexus LS	18.9%	53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class	20.8%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar XJR	23.6%	36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Maserati Ghibli	14.6%	32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 8 Series	10.9%	28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jeep 300	34.8%	18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

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

Questions

Lexus LS questions, answered

Is the Lexus LS reliable?

On MOT results, the Lexus LS is better than average: it fails 18.9% of first MOT tests, 53% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 5 of 14 luxury car models in our index.

What fails most on a Lexus LS MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Lexus LS are position lamp not working (2.17% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.32% of tests), suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (1.21% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 7.3% of its tests.

Which Lexus LS year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2008 cars do best (64% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2007 cars do worst (56% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Lexus LS do a year?

A typical Lexus LS covers about 7,100 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 LS 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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