Lexus IS250 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Lexus IS250 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 18,380 MOT tests across 8 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
85%
Lexus IS250 pass rate
87%
Lexus average
82%
All-model average
The Lexus IS250 has an average MOT pass rate of 85%, which is 2 points below the Lexus average and 3 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Lexus IS250s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 7 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Lexus IS250 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 2,381 MOT tests on the Lexus IS250 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
49%Cars and vans the same age: 48% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
30%Cars and vans the same age: 26% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
23%Cars and vans the same age: 17% (the IS250 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
17%Cars and vans the same age: 14% · Typical repair £80-£800
Suspension
15%Cars and vans the same age: 41% (the IS250 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (19% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (9.4% of failed tests, brakes)
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam (9.1% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Lexus IS250 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each IS250 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Lexus IS250 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Lexus IS250 Running Costs
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Lexus IS250 FAQ
What are the most common Lexus IS250 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Lexus IS250 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (49% of the 2,381 failed tests), brakes (30%) and tyres (23%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (19%). Across 18,380 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 85% ended in a pass.
Is the Lexus IS250 reliable?
The Lexus IS250 has an average MOT pass rate of 85%, from 18,380 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 10 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which Lexus IS250 years should I avoid?
No Lexus IS250 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2011 (93% of 2,579 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars), the 2010 (86% of 2,123 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars) and the 2007 (83% of 3,642 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Lexus IS250 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Lexus IS250 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Lexus Models
Common problems pages for other Lexus models