2015 Lexus Is — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 15,332 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Lexus Is, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 91.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (84.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 939 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 527 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 297 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 213 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 61 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 319 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 303 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 267 |
| 4 | Wipers | 263 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 149 |
| 6 | Washers | 82 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.3% | 3,421 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 1,617 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 681 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 484 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 379 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 110 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,038 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,361 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,448 | 9.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,139 | 10.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,079 | 10.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,267 | 7.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 14,666 | 8.7% |
| Petrol | 624 | 8.5% |
| Other | 42 | 2.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,084 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 3,081 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 3,051 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 3,081 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 3,035 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Is
Before buying a 2015 Lexus Is, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Lexus Iss pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 15,332 2015 Lexus Is MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Lexus Is?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 2015 Is get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,332 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.