Lexus
Is220
8,628 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Is220s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 3.8 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
73.7%
Pass-after-fix
5.6%
Fail
20.1%
Avg miles
127,594
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered before September 2015 are typically pre-Euro 6 — subject to daily charges in London ULEZ (£12.50), Birmingham CAZ (£8), Bristol CAZ (£9), and Glasgow LEZ. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
The picture
Is220: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 6,819 MOT tests, the Is220 returns 73.8% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a defective headlamp lens. Headlamp aim out of spec and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 124,846, 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
Group 20–44
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 →
20–44
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
603 occurrences · 7.0% of tests
- 02
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
309 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
298 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 04
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
259 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 05
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
257 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 06
A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier
196 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 07
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
166 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 08
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
157 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade defective
152 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
125 occurrences · 1.4% 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
£80–£255
If every one of this Is220'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 →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
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
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
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
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Motor World
Motor World Lexus IS200 Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Lexus IS300 2005- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Lexus IS250/220 Man/Auto 2006- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Lexus GS450H Saloon 2005- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Buying or keeping an Is220?
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 Is220 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.