2016 Lexus IS MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 85.4% of Lexus IS cars first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 6,039 IS first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, lamps and electrical equipment and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Lexus IS cars first used in 2016 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
85.4%
of 1,980 first tests; all cars first used in 2016: 74.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
6,039
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,980 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
56.6%
of 1,980 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
73,500
middle half: 52,000–105,500 miles; all cars first used in 2016: 67,500

How the 2016 Lexus IS MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, IS cars first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the IS figure was 10.5 points higher.

2016 ISAll cars first used in 2016
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2016, test year 2021: 82.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2022: 80.9%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2023: 78.6%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2024: 76.7%All cars first used in 2016, test year 2025: 74.9%2016 IS, test year 2021: 87.4%2016 IS, test year 2022: 89%2016 IS, test year 2023: 88%2016 IS, test year 2024: 86.5%2016 IS, test year 2025: 85.4%85.4%74.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2016 ISAll cars first used 2016IS first tests
202187.4%82.7%2,051
202289.0%80.9%2,024
202388.0%78.6%2,046
202486.5%76.7%2,013
202585.4%74.9%1,980

Common 2016 Lexus IS MOT failures

Share of the 806 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Tyres51.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment26.1%
Visibility15.9%
Brakes14.5%
Suspension4.5%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed16.0%129
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords11.8%95
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm11.7%94
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam11.4%92
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively10.9%88

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2016 Lexus IS before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2016 Lexus IS MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 IS cars, as a share of all 6,039 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.4%868
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing6.0%361
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.0%302
Brake pads: wearing thin2.8%169
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.6%157

Questions about the 2016 Lexus IS MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Lexus IS?

In 2025, 85.4% of IS cars first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2016 IS most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 51.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (26.1%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (15.9%). The single most common item was “Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed” (16.0%).

How often does a 2016 Lexus IS fail its MOT?

In 2025, 14.6% of first tests on IS cars first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 11.3% failed, and a further 3.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 806 of 6,039 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2016 Lexus IS MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 14.4% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (6.0%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (5.0%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (2.8%) and “Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (2.6%).

Is a 2016 Lexus IS reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 87.4% in 2021 to 85.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2016

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2016 Lexus IS MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2016 IS” means a Lexus IS whose date of first use falls in 2016 (65, 16 and 66 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2016, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.