Sports car and convertible · 2001–2020 cars
Lexus SC reliability
The Lexus SC fails 21.7% of first MOT tests, 46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 6,690 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Lexus SC before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 21.7%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 46% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 6,690
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Lexus SC ages
Each point is the share of Lexus SCs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Lexus SC | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 15.6% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 21.5% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 15.7% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 21.1% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 22.7% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 22.7% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 25.9% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 22.3% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 20.3% | 40.6% |
By year
The best and worst Lexus SC years
2003 cars come out best and 2002 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 228 | 11.8% | 63% fewer fails | 53,964 |
| 2007 | 621 | 16.7% | 56% fewer fails | 64,437 |
| 2006 | 713 | 19.1% | 51% fewer fails | 71,918 |
| 2005 | 820 | 18.9% | 53% fewer fails | 82,749 |
| 2004 | 831 | 27.1% | 35% fewer fails | 88,336 |
| 2003 SC | 1,082 | 22.7% | 46% fewer fails | 93,888 |
| 2002 SC | 1,428 | 23.5% | 43% fewer fails | 93,433 |
| 2001 | 785 | 24.1% | 41% fewer fails | 96,187 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Lexus SC
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics7.5%60% below avg
- Brakes6.1%49% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.5%14% below avg
- Suspension5.1%66% below avg
- Tyres4.1%33% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.3%54% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure2.1%74% below avg
- Steering0.6%83% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.5%25% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.63% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 2
Position lamp not working 2% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 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
Lambda reading outside specified limits 1.66% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 5
ESC warning lamp shows fault 1.36% of tests
A lit stability control warning means the car's skid protection may not work, so it should be diagnosed promptly.
- 6
Shock absorber serious fluid leak 1.32% of tests
A shock absorber leaking heavily has likely lost its damping, so the car will handle and brake less safely.
- 7
Exhaust has major gas leak 1.29% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 8
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 1.2% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Lexus SC's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit8.19%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.68%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak5.2%
- Brake pads wearing thin4.53%
- Shock absorber light oil misting3.96%
- Brake disc pitted or scored3.14%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Lexus SC
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 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
Lambda reading outside specified limits
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 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 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
- Petrol99.9%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Red, Black, Bronze
Average engine size: 4.3 litres.
Compare
How the Lexus SC compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Skyline | 14.2% | 60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan 370 Z | 14.3% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus SC | 21.7% | 46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Abarth 124 Spider | 9.6% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Coupe | 27.6% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo Brera | 34.8% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo GT | 45.9% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Lexus models.
Questions
Lexus SC questions, answered
Is the Lexus SC reliable?
On MOT results, the Lexus SC is better than average: it fails 21.7% of first MOT tests, 46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 27 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Lexus SC MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Lexus SC are engine warning light inoperative or lit (2.63% of tests), position lamp not working (2% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.81% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 7.5% of its tests.
Which Lexus SC year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2003 cars do best (46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2002 cars do worst (43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Lexus SC 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.
Found a Lexus SC? Check it free.
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.