The picture
Ls400: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 1,188 MOT tests, the Ls400 returns 75.5% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a number-plate lamp out. Windscreen damage and worn suspension bushes round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 144,052, 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.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
47 occurrences · 4.0% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
46 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 03
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
39 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
- 04
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
39 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
- 05
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
34 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 06
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
33 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 07
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
33 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 08
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
33 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 09
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
31 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 10
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
22 occurrences · 1.9% 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
£168–£515
If every one of this Ls400'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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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.
Buying or keeping a Ls400?
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 a Ls400 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.