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Lexus IS220 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lexus IS220 car check

Is the Lexus IS220 reliable? We analysed 191,733 real MOT tests across 13,812 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 191,733 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.7%
Typical Mileage
89,243mi
Annual Mileage
7,548mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
20yrs

The Lexus IS220 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 brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lexus IS220.

Lexus IS220 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lexus IS220. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lexus IS220 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lexus IS220 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81.6%
2012
82.8%
2011
81.7%
2010
82.1%
2009
80.6%
2008
80.5%
2007
80.2%
2006
81.5%
2005

Lexus IS220 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lexus IS220 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,421
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,297
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2,226
position lamp(s) not working 1,660
Headlamp aim too low 1,305
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 1,077
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 950

Lexus IS220 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Lexus IS220 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,772

Lexus IS220 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lexus IS220 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,719 mi/yr
Typical
7,548 mi/yr
Average
8,693 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,239 mi/yr

Lexus IS220 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lexus IS220 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 136 81.6% 50,767 73,223 98,647
2011 1,503 82.8% 49,429 82,299 113,268
2010 14,285 81.7% 52,802 80,611 112,562
2009 23,728 82.1% 56,506 86,036 116,866
2008 34,924 80.6% 58,426 87,155 116,992
2007 62,190 80.5% 60,759 90,183 120,675
2006 53,623 80.2% 63,108 93,392 124,359
2005 1,091 81.5% 58,972 90,199 124,107

How Long Does a Lexus IS220 Last?

Based on 13,812 Lexus IS220 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.0 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
20 years

Lexus IS220 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lexus IS220 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
89,243 mi
75th Percentile
120,012 mi
95th Percentile
165,066 mi
Max Recorded
1,636,612 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lexus IS220

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

Best year
2011

82.8% MOT pass rate from 1,503 tests

Year to avoid
2006

80.2% MOT pass rate from 53,623 tests

The best year to buy a used Lexus IS220 is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.8% across 1,503 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lexus IS220 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lexus IS220 THIS CAR 80.7% 191,733 89,243 mi 20 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
Hyundai Terracan 72.7% 79,454 79,593 mi 23 yrs

Compared to the Lexus IS200 (75.4% pass rate) and the Lexus Ct (86.8% pass rate), the Lexus IS220 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lexus IS220?

The Lexus IS220 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.7% across 191,733 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 IS220 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5,421 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (2,297), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (2,226). 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 IS220 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 IS220 owner drives around 7,548 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 IS220 models stay on UK roads for around 20 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 IS220 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lexus IS220 reliable?
Based on 191,733 MOT tests, the Lexus IS220 has a 80.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lexus IS220?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lexus IS220 do per year?
The typical Lexus IS220 does around 7,548 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lexus IS220 last?
Most Lexus IS220 models stay on UK roads for around 20 years based on our analysis of 13,812 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lexus IS220?
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 IS220?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lexus IS220 is 2011 with a 82.8% pass rate across 1,503 tests.