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Lexus Is 220D Se-i Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lexus Is 220D Se-i car check

Is the Lexus Is 220D Se-i reliable? We analysed 1,421 real MOT tests across 143 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,421 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.5%
Typical Mileage
91,370mi
Annual Mileage
7,165mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Lexus Is 220D Se-i is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and tyre has ply or cords exposed. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lexus Is 220D Se-i.

Lexus Is 220D Se-i Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lexus Is 220D Se-i. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lexus Is 220D Se-i MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lexus Is 220D Se-i to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81.4%
2010
85.3%
2009

Lexus Is 220D Se-i Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lexus Is 220D Se-i fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 16
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 12
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10
brake caliper has restricted free movement 8
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 7

Lexus Is 220D Se-i Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Lexus Is 220D Se-i models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 24

Lexus Is 220D Se-i Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lexus Is 220D Se-i owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,607 mi/yr
Typical
7,165 mi/yr
Average
8,400 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,860 mi/yr

Lexus Is 220D Se-i MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lexus Is 220D Se-i year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 435 81.4% 55,082 89,940 117,916
2009 763 85.3% 52,540 83,014 114,902

Lexus Is 220D Se-i Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lexus Is 220D Se-i MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
91,370 mi
75th Percentile
123,056 mi
95th Percentile
168,748 mi
Max Recorded
253,879 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lexus Is 220D Se-i

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

Best year
2009

85.3% MOT pass rate from 763 tests

Year to avoid
2010

81.4% MOT pass rate from 435 tests

The best year to buy a used Lexus Is 220D Se-i is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.3% across 763 tests. The 2010 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lexus Is 220D Se-i Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lexus Is 220D Se-i THIS CAR 83.5% 1,421 91,370 mi 17 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
Vauxhall Astra Exclusiv 98 85.4% 2,315 77,698 mi — yrs

Compared to the Lexus IS200 (75.4% pass rate) and the Lexus Ct (86.8% pass rate), the Lexus Is 220D Se-i sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lexus Is 220D Se-i?

The Lexus Is 220D Se-i has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.5% across 1,421 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 Is 220D Se-i are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (16 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (12), and tyre has ply or cords exposed (10). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Lexus Is 220D Se-i with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Lexus Is 220D Se-i owner drives around 7,165 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 Is 220D Se-i models stay on UK roads for around 17 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 Is 220D Se-i — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lexus Is 220D Se-i reliable?
Based on 1,421 MOT tests, the Lexus Is 220D Se-i has a 83.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lexus Is 220D Se-i?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and tyre has ply or cords exposed. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lexus Is 220D Se-i do per year?
The typical Lexus Is 220D Se-i does around 7,165 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lexus Is 220D Se-i last?
Most Lexus Is 220D Se-i models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 143 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lexus Is 220D Se-i?
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 Is 220D Se-i?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lexus Is 220D Se-i is 2009 with a 85.3% pass rate across 763 tests.