Lexus IS200
Registered from 1999 to 2012.
About this model
The Lexus IS is a compact executive car sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota, since 1998. The IS was originally sold under the Toyota Altezza nameplate in Japan from 1998 until 2005. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model positioned below the ES in the Lexus lineup. It was the smallest car in the Lexus lineup until the introduction of the CT in 2011.
From the Wikipedia article Lexus IS, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2004 2.0 petrol. 397 of 1,790 tests failed, 22%.
Better than 83% of 2004 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 750 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 52% | 205 |
| Lights and electrics | 32% | 128 |
| Tyres and wheels | 26% | 104 |
| Brakes | 25% | 98 |
| Visibility | 17% | 67 |
| Body and structure | 14% | 55 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A tyre seriously damaged
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 52% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Tyres and wheels — 26% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brakes — 25% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 32% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 17% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Body and structure — 14% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
When it starts failing
At 180–200k miles this one fails 16% of its inspections, against the 31% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 9% | 17% | 43 | |
| 40–60k miles | 14% | 22% | 140 | |
| 60–80k miles | 19% | 25% | 268 | |
| 80–100k miles | 23% | 28% | 351 | |
| 100–120k miles | 26% | 29% | 371 | |
| 120–140k miles | 25% | 30% | 287 | |
| 140–160k miles | 23% | 31% | 171 | |
| 160–180k miles | 27% | 31% | 96 | |
| 180–200k miles | 16% | 31% | 31 |
1,758 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 100k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.