Used car guide

2003 Lexus IS200: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Lexus IS200s, from 973 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

973MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
5,000typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for rust around sub-frame mountings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Lexus IS200s than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings3.3× usual
    Lexus IS200
    4.6% All 2003 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Body structure rust or damage2× usual
    Lexus IS200
    6.9% All 2003 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

  • Rust in key structural areas2.4× usual
    Lexus IS200
    3.3% All 2003 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 6.4% here, against 18.3% of all 2003 cars. Coil springs: 5.2% here, against 10.5% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Lexus IS200 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% 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.

  • Brakes
    32% 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
    28% 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.

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    13% 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.

Looking at a Lexus IS200?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2005646Suspension 40%
20041,159Suspension 38%
2002758Suspension 44%
2001587Suspension 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Lexus IS200s registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score