Used car guide · 1999–2026

Lexus IS common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Lexus IS, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 60,962 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2026 Lexus IS

Cars registered in 2026 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Lexus IS as a whole.

10registered new in 2026 so far
2029first MOT due
Petrol hybridfuel type
What to check on a 2026 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999

What usually goes wrong with a Lexus IS?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Lexus IS in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Lexus IS MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Anti-roll bar

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002 and 2003.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999 and 2000.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Lexus IS MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 Lexus IS did best (79% passed first time, 20 points above all 2009 cars) and the 2020 did worst (91%, 4 points above all 2020 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202187%87% +0105 (small sample)
202091%87% +41,695
201989%85% +43,493
201891%83% +84,320
201789%80% +94,631
201687%77% +105,903
201587%74% +138,347
201485%70% +159,212
201384%67% +174,877
201282%64% +18884
201180%62% +18405 (small sample)
201080%60% +20436 (small sample)
200979%59% +20506
200874%57% +17723
200769%57% +12739
200666%56% +10627
200575%57% +18170 (small sample)
200465%57% +83,890
200366%57% +93,292
200264%58% +62,659
200166%60% +62,096
200066%61% +51,188
199966%63% +3764

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Lexus IS

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the rust around sub-frame mountings? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the Lexus IS as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Lexus IS as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the Lexus IS as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Lexus IS?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score