Used car guide

2007 Lexus IS: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 Lexus ISs, from 203 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 203 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

203MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
6,700typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 Lexus ISs than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Brake pads2.1× usual
    Lexus IS
    17.7% All 2007 cars
    8.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 2% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

By area

The share of 2007 Lexus IS MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    31% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    29% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    10% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Lexus IS?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020554Tyres 25%
20191,154Tyres 28%
20181,467Tyres 25%
20171,555Tyres 26%
20161,952Tyres 28%
20152,772Tyres 28%
20143,001Tyres 29%
20131,607Tyres 30%
2012298Tyres 37%
2011135Tyres 21%
2010145Tyres 30%
2009153Brakes 28%
2008222Tyres 29%
2006163Brakes 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2007 Lexus ISs registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score