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Lexus LS reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 21,888 MOT tests of cars first registered 1995–2008.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
75.3%pass first time
+19.6 ptsvs typical car
Beats 98%of cars
21,888MOT tests

Verdict

The Lexus LS passes its MOT first time on 75.3% of tests, 19.6 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (55.7%). That puts it ahead of 98% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2008 LS does best (beats 100% of cars) and the 1995 worst (beats 85%).

Of its engines, the 5.0 Hybrid does best (beats 100%) and the 4.0 Petrol worst (beats 93%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, brakes, suspension.

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%1415161718192081%79%76%75%77%76%73%
Lexus LSTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

1995
Beats 85%
1996
Beats 90%
1997
Beats 88%
1998
Beats 95%
1999
Beats 97%
2001
Beats 99%
2002
Beats 99%
2003
Beats 99%
2004
Beats 99%
2005
Beats 99%
2007
Beats 99%
2008
Beats 100%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.3 Petrol2001–200510,12976.1%Beats 99%A
4.0 Petrol1995–19997,76071.5%Beats 93%A
4.6 Petrol2007–20072,89079.1%Beats 99%A
5.0 Hybrid2008–20081,10984.4%Beats 100%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 5.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 6.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 9.5% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 21.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 14.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 9.5% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 21.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+12.3 ptsTyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.2 ptsBrakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 14.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+6.9 ptsSuspension: 6.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+10.6 ptsExhaust: 5.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+2.6 ptsSuspension: 6.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 14.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 9.5% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 21.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 5.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 9.5% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 21.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+12.3 ptsTyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.2 ptsBrakes: 7.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 14.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+6.9 ptsSuspension: 6.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 17.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+10.6 ptsExhaust: 5.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+2.6 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
9.5% vs 21.8%
Brakes
7.6% vs 14.5%
Suspension
6.9% vs 17.5%
Emissions & leaks
5.0% vs 7.6%
Tyres
4.6% vs 6.7%
Visibility
3.4% vs 7.7%
Body & structure
2.7% vs 10.0%
Steering
1.3% vs 4.7%
Seat belts & airbags
0.6% vs 3.6%
Wheels
0.4% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Handbrake performance
    Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)
    Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
  • Engine warning light
    The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k82%79%79%78%77%76%73%71%70%
Lexus LSTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Sidelights3.5%5.4%0.7×
Headlight aim2.9%6.0%0.5×
Tyre damage & cracking2.6%3.4%0.8×
Handbrake performance2.4%3.5%0.7×
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.3%3.1%0.7×
Engine warning light2.0%1.6%1.2×
Windscreen wipers1.9%3.5%0.5×
Tyre tread depth1.8%3.0%0.6×
Exhaust system1.7%3.0%0.6×
Brake pads1.5%1.8%0.8×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements28.5
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn27.7
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning26.8
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction20.9
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen19.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.5
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer17.3
Exhaust system leaking or insecure16.2
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2008 Lexus LS1 engine84.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
5.0 Hybrid1,10984.4%Beats 100%A
2007 Lexus LS1 engine79.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.6 Petrol2,89079.1%Beats 99%A
2005 Lexus LS1 engine77.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.3 Petrol2,40277.9%Beats 99%A
2004 Lexus LS1 engine76.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.3 Petrol2,36276.0%Beats 99%A
2003 Lexus LS1 engine75.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.3 Petrol1,67275.6%Beats 99%A
2002 Lexus LS1 engine74.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.3 Petrol1,70174.9%Beats 99%A
2001 Lexus LS1 engine75.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.3 Petrol1,99275.7%Beats 99%A
1999 Lexus LS1 engine72.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.0 Petrol1,19072.8%Beats 97%A
1998 Lexus LS1 engine72.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.0 Petrol2,58772.7%Beats 95%A
1997 Lexus LS1 engine70.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.0 Petrol1,58270.0%Beats 88%A
1996 Lexus LS1 engine71.2% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.0 Petrol1,24771.2%Beats 90%A
1995 Lexus LS1 engine70.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
4.0 Petrol1,15470.1%Beats 85%A

FAQ

What is the Lexus LS MOT pass rate?

75.3% of MOT tests on the Lexus LS were passed first time, based on 21,888 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1995–2008. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 55.7% of the time.

Is the Lexus LS reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 98% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Lexus LS year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2008 LS does best for its age and mileage: it beats 100% of cars on UK roads. The 1995 does worst: it beats 85%.

Which Lexus LS engine is best?

Across all years, the 5.0 Hybrid does best: it beats 100% of cars on UK roads. The 4.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 93%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Lexus LS?

The most common failure items are sidelights, headlight aim, tyre damage & cracking.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.