How reliable is the Lexus IS300 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Lexus IS300, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 75.5% across 697 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What do testers most often warn about on a Lexus IS300?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 18.2% of all Lexus IS300 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Lexus IS300 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 114,726 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Are most Lexus IS300 models petrol or diesel?

Of the Lexus IS300 cars tested, 84% are petrol, 16% are hybrid. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Lexus IS300 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 697 recorded MOT tests of the Lexus IS300, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 697 MOT tests, 75.5% of Lexus IS300 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Lexus IS300 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is 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, which appears in 20.7% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 114,726 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

75.5%unadjusted, not comparable697 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the IS300. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 697 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Lexus IS300 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.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 repaired20.7%
29 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened15.0%
21 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning13.6%
19 occurrencesLamp not working explained
4.A tyre cords visible or damaged12.9%
18 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
5.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements12.9%
18 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
6.A tyre seriously damaged11.4%
16 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
7.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen10.7%
15 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
8.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements10.0%
14 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
9.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction10.0%
14 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained
10.A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage9.3%
13 occurrencesShock absorber defective explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Lexus IS300 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements18.2%
127 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users15.6%
109 tests
3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn11.9%
83 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
4.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.9%
76 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
5.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded8.3%
58 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
6.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.0%
56 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
7.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 repaired7.5%
52 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
8.A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded7.3%
51 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained

What gets tested

The IS300 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 114,726
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol83.6%
Hybrid15.9%

Check a specific Lexus IS300

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Lexus models

Lexus NX — 89.3% adjusted
Lexus CT — 85.0% adjusted
Lexus RX — 88.2% adjusted
Lexus UX — 93.7% unadjusted
Lexus IS — 84.3% adjusted
Lexus IS250 — 73.7% unadjusted
All Lexus models

Common questions

How reliable is the Lexus IS300 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Lexus IS300, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 75.5% across 697 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Lexus IS300?: The item recorded most often is "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", which appears in 20.7% of failed Lexus IS300 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Lexus IS300?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 18.2% of all Lexus IS300 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Lexus IS300 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 114,726 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Are most Lexus IS300 models petrol or diesel?: Of the Lexus IS300 cars tested, 84% are petrol, 16% are hybrid. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.