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Lexus GS300 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lexus GS300 car check

Is the Lexus GS300 reliable? We analysed 172,303 real MOT tests across 13,418 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 172,303 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.9%
Typical Mileage
98,442mi
Annual Mileage
5,299mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Lexus GS300 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lexus GS300.

Lexus GS300 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lexus GS300. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lexus GS300 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lexus GS300 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86%
2009
83.6%
2008
81.8%
2007
81.5%
2006
80.8%
2005
80.2%
2004
79.7%
2003
78.7%
2002
77.8%
2001
76.2%
2000
75.2%
1999
75%
1998
72.9%
1997
71.5%
1996
69.8%
1995
69.1%
1994
69%
1993

Lexus GS300 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lexus GS300 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,060
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,631
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,795
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 2,777
position lamp(s) not working 2,752
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,173
suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint 2,002
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 1,985
brake binding 1,941
Registration plate lamp not working 1,697

Lexus GS300 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lexus GS300 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,962 mi/yr
Typical
5,299 mi/yr
Average
6,510 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,498 mi/yr

Lexus GS300 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lexus GS300 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 1,898 86.0% 34,833 59,096 86,419
2008 3,794 83.6% 41,862 66,526 94,249
2007 7,800 81.8% 44,710 71,340 103,360
2006 13,657 81.5% 47,670 74,124 106,854
2005 25,236 80.8% 47,752 75,342 107,051
2004 3,373 80.2% 55,119 83,975 113,500
2003 6,886 79.7% 51,825 80,217 111,222
2002 10,076 78.7% 61,659 90,252 120,597
2001 11,453 77.8% 67,950 94,621 124,991
2000 10,601 76.2% 75,218 102,702 131,237
1999 15,683 75.2% 81,280 107,531 136,320
1998 25,314 75.0% 86,364 113,430 142,910
1997 11,791 72.9% 86,612 111,312 138,678
1996 9,256 71.5% 93,192 120,267 146,597
1995 6,235 69.8% 99,791 125,534 150,102
1994 7,195 69.1% 107,494 132,262 160,744
1993 1,666 69.0% 102,404 129,685 159,593

How Long Does a Lexus GS300 Last?

Based on 13,418 Lexus GS300 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.7 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Lexus GS300 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lexus GS300 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
98,442 mi
75th Percentile
130,288 mi
95th Percentile
179,160 mi
Max Recorded
1,384,025 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lexus GS300

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2009

86.0% MOT pass rate from 1,898 tests

Year to avoid
1993

69.0% MOT pass rate from 1,666 tests

The best year to buy a used Lexus GS300 is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.0% across 1,898 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lexus GS300 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lexus GS300 THIS CAR 76.9% 172,303 98,442 mi 33 yrs
Lexus IS200 75.4% 546,826 87,139 mi 27 yrs
Lexus Ct 86.8% 304,916 55,351 mi 15 yrs
Lexus RX300 79% 229,652 83,424 mi 26 yrs
Ssangyong Korando 74.9% 79,386 51,856 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Lexus IS200 (75.4% pass rate) and the Lexus Ct (86.8% pass rate), the Lexus GS300 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lexus GS300?

The Lexus GS300 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% across 172,303 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Lexus GS300 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (8,060 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3,631), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (2,795). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Lexus GS300 owner drives around 5,299 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Lexus GS300 models stay on UK roads for around 33 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Lexus GS300 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lexus GS300 reliable?
Based on 172,303 MOT tests, the Lexus GS300 has a 76.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lexus GS300?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lexus GS300 do per year?
The typical Lexus GS300 does around 5,299 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lexus GS300 last?
Most Lexus GS300 models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 13,418 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lexus GS300?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Lexus GS300?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lexus GS300 is 2009 with a 86.0% pass rate across 1,898 tests.