Used car guide

2001 Lexus IS200: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2001 Lexus IS200s, from 587 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

587MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 61%)
5,000typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2001 Lexus IS200s than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Suspension arm2.3× usual
    Lexus IS200
    8.3% All 2001 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.3% of all 2001 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 6.3% here, against 17% of all 2001 cars.

By area

The share of 2001 Lexus IS200 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% 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
    29% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    12% 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.

Looking at a Lexus IS200?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2005646Suspension 40%
20041,159Suspension 38%
2003973Suspension 41%
2002758Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2001 Lexus IS200s registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score