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Lomax 223 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lomax 223 car check

Is the Lomax 223 reliable? We analysed 905 real MOT tests across 109 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 905 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.7%
Typical Mileage
49,541mi
Annual Mileage
446mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
51yrs

The Lomax 223 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering, parking brake recording little or no effort and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lomax 223.

Lomax 223 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lomax 223. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lomax 223 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lomax 223 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.5%
1980
89.2%
1979
91.4%
1978
79.6%
1975

Lomax 223 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lomax 223 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering 10
parking brake recording little or no effort 10
position lamp(s) not working 7
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 7
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 6
wheel bearing has excessive play 5
Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush 5
Headlamp not working on main beam 5
constant velocity joint gaiter insecure to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc 5
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 4

Lomax 223 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lomax 223 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
149 mi/yr
Typical
446 mi/yr
Average
1,127 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,157 mi/yr

Lomax 223 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lomax 223 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1980 96 87.5% 13,920 28,505 54,313
1979 93 89.2% 31,952 45,484 64,871
1978 105 91.4% 12,205 66,946 84,144
1975 54 79.6% 12,024 38,944 80,145

How Long Does a Lomax 223 Last?

Based on 109 Lomax 223 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
34.4 years
Median
36.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
51 years

Lomax 223 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lomax 223 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
49,541 mi
75th Percentile
78,996 mi
95th Percentile
95,436 mi
Max Recorded
99,409 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lomax 223

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

Best year
1978

91.4% MOT pass rate from 105 tests

Year to avoid
1975

79.6% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

The best year to buy a used Lomax 223 is 1978, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.4% across 105 tests. The 1975 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lomax 223 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lomax 223 THIS CAR 87.7% 905 49,541 mi 51 yrs
Suzuki Rv 125 K8 (van Van) 83.4% 1,449 9,498 mi 19 yrs
Volkswagen Golf SE TSI Bmt 97.7% 817 42,537 mi — yrs
Kawasaki En 650 Ekf 91.7% 543 4,852 mi — yrs
Lexus Ct 200H F Sport CVT 87.5% 734 68,268 mi 14 yrs

Compared to the Suzuki Rv 125 K8 (van Van) (83.4% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Golf SE TSI Bmt (97.7% pass rate), the Lomax 223 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lomax 223?

The Lomax 223 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% across 905 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 Lomax 223 are axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering (10 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (10), and position lamp(s) not working (7). 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 Lomax 223 owner drives around 446 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 Lomax 223 models stay on UK roads for around 51 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.

Lomax 223 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lomax 223 reliable?
Based on 905 MOT tests, the Lomax 223 has a 87.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lomax 223?
The most common MOT failures are axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering, parking brake recording little or no effort, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lomax 223 do per year?
The typical Lomax 223 does around 446 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lomax 223 last?
Most Lomax 223 models stay on UK roads for around 51 years based on our analysis of 109 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lomax 223?
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 Lomax 223?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lomax 223 is 1978 with a 91.4% pass rate across 105 tests.