2002 Lexus Ls430 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 960 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Lexus Ls430, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 84.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.1% in the 150k+ group versus 14.8% in the 60-90k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 107 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 58 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 47 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.0% | 38 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 36 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.3% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 54 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 30 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 25 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
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 | 28.1% | 270 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.3% | 205 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.2% | 146 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 140 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 126 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 114 |
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 | 155 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 255 | 12.6% |
| 120-150k | 218 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 294 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 252 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 205 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 184 | 14.7% |
| 2024 | 162 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 157 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Ls430
Before buying a 2002 Lexus Ls430, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 (4.9% 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 2002 Lexus Ls430s pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 960 2002 Lexus Ls430 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Lexus Ls430?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2002 Ls430 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 60-90k band to 20.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 960 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.