Used car guide

2000 Lexus IS200: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Lexus IS200s, from 330 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 330 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

330MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
4,800typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Lexus IS200s than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Headlights2.3× usual
    Lexus IS200
    16.7% All 2000 cars
    7.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 3.2% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm3.2× usual
    Lexus IS200
    10.3% All 2000 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

By area

The share of 2000 Lexus IS200 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    29% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    15% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% 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 IS200?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2011358Tyres 35%
2005646Suspension 40%
20041,159Suspension 38%
2003973Suspension 41%
2002758Suspension 44%
2001587Suspension 45%
1999206Suspension 38%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Lexus IS200s registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score