Verdict
Lexus cars pass their MOT first time on 81.8% of tests, against 69.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats 97% of cars on UK roads and ranks Lexus 2nd of 40 makes, well ahead of Toyota and far ahead of most mainstream makes.
Every Lexus model does well. The UX and NX beat almost every car on UK roads (99%), the RX, LS and GS 98%, and the CT 97%. The IS, the most tested Lexus, is the weakest, and still beats 95%.
Lexus cars fail less often than a typical car in every area: steering about a seventh as often, body and structure and seat belts about a quarter as often, suspension about a third as often, and emissions and leaks less than half as often. Lights and electrics and brakes fail a little over half as often. Tyres and wheels come closest to typical, failing about a fifth less often; tyres fail on about 1 in 19 tests.
Where it fails
Every Lexus compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Lexus models
Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, 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. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.
| Model first registered | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS 1999–2020 | 75.8% | Beats 95% | A |
| RX 2001–2022 | 80.0% | Beats 98% | A |
| CT 2011–2020 | 84.3% | Beats 97% | A |
| NX 2014–2023 | 91.0% | Beats 99% | A |
| GS 1998–2018 | 78.4% | Beats 98% | A |
| UX 2019–2023 | 93.8% | Beats 99% | A |
| LS 1995–2008 | 75.3% | Beats 98% | A |
FAQ
What is Lexus's MOT pass rate?
81.8% of Lexus MOT tests were passed first time, from 1.2 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 69.7%, so Lexus is far above average.
Are Lexus cars reliable?
On MOT results, yes: Lexus beats 97% of cars on UK roads and ranks 2nd of 40 makes. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Lexus models are most reliable?
The UX and NX beat almost every car on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and the RX, LS, GS and CT nearly as many.
Is there a Lexus to avoid?
No. The weakest model, the IS, still beats more than nine in ten cars.
What are the most common MOT failures on Lexus cars?
Lights and electrics (about 1 in 15 tests) and tyres (about 1 in 19), followed by brakes. All fail less often than on a typical car.