Lexus
6,017 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where ESs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 16.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
94.1%
Pass-after-fix
1.9%
Fail
3.8%
Avg miles
37,954
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 6,005 tests
Pass rate climbs 2.0 points across the cohorts — newer ES examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
93.3%
Fail
4.6%
PRS
2.1%
Avg mileage at test
45,472 mi
Pass
95.3%
Fail
2.8%
PRS
1.7%
Avg mileage at test
28,255 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 2,313 MOT tests, the Es returns 93.5% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a tyre with the cords showing. A seriously damaged tyre and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 34,904, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
30–40
out of 50
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Wiper blade defective
82 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
63 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
53 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
45 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
33 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
19 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
12 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
9 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
9 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
8 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£140–£235
If every one of this ES's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 2.0-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Lexus ES makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
95.3%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 95.3% — a 2.0-point improvement. Tests in this band average 28,255 miles — roughly 17K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: blade defective, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
93.3%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 93.3% pass rate against a fleet average of 95.3% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: blade defective, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and has ply or cords exposed. Average mileage on test for this band is 45,472 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (95.3% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (93.3% pass). That's a 2.0-point spread across 3,358 older tests and 2,647 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Recall history
The ES has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an ES and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
