2001 Lexus Ls430 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,092 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Lexus Ls430, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 84.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.8% in the 150k+ group versus 8.1% in the 60-90k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 65 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 59 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 37 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.8% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 62 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 55 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 35 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 34 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 30 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 27 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.4% | 310 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.0% | 240 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.1% | 187 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 173 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 162 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 132 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 161 | 8.1% |
| 90-120k | 265 | 12.4% |
| 120-150k | 302 | 17.2% |
| 150k+ | 337 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 280 | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 251 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 215 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 173 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 173 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Ls430
Before buying a 2001 Lexus Ls430, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (5.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2001 Lexus Ls430s pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 1,092 2001 Lexus Ls430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Lexus Ls430?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2001 Ls430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 60-90k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,092 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.