Model reliability file
Lexus SC430 MOT pass rate & common failures
From 1,762 recorded MOT tests of the Lexus SC430, published by DVSA.
Data updated
Quick answer
Across 1,762 MOT tests, 76.6% of Lexus SC430 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Lexus SC430 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 lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, which appears in 11.0% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 91,145 miles on the odometer when tested.
At a glance
Recorded pass rate
We are not publishing a ranking for the SC430. 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 1,762 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.
DVSA recorded wording
Most common failure items
Share of failed Lexus SC430 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.
- 1.Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer11.0%
38 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
- 2.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction11.0%
38 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained
- 3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn10.7%
37 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
- 4.ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction10.1%
35 occurrences
- 5.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake9.0%
31 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
- 6.A tyre seriously damaged8.4%
29 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
- 7.A tyre cords visible or damaged8.4%
29 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 8.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.4%
29 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
- 9.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.1%
28 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
- 10.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements8.1%
28 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
Share of all Lexus SC430 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 requirements14.9%
- 2.A tyre seriously damaged14.0%
- 3.Exhaust system leaking or insecure7.5%
- 4.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded7.1%
125 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
- 5.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users6.5%
114 tests
- 6.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm6.3%
- 7.A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage5.9%
104 testsShock absorber defective explained
- 8.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured5.6%
What gets tested
The SC430 fleet
- Average mileage recorded at test
- 91,145
- Fuel mix of tested cars
- Petrol99.8%
Across examples of every age, so this is a description of the fleet rather than an annual figure.
Check a specific Lexus SC430
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 SC430 compared with other cars?
- We do not publish a comparison for the Lexus SC430, 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 76.6% across 1,762 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 SC430?
- The item recorded most often is "Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer", which appears in 11.0% of failed Lexus SC430 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 SC430?
- The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 14.9% of all Lexus SC430 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
- What mileage does a Lexus SC430 usually have at its MOT?
- The average odometer reading recorded at test is 91,145 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.
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.
Further reading