Used car guide

2004 Lexus IS200: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Lexus IS200s, from 1,159 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,159MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,100typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for rust around sub-frame mountings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Lexus IS200s than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings2.5× usual
    Lexus IS200
    3.7% All 2004 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2004 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.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 4.7% here, against 9.7% of all 2004 cars. Brake lights: 2.1% here, against 5.7% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Lexus IS200 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    38% 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
    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.

  • Brakes
    28% 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
    13% 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
    12% 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?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2005646Suspension 40%
2003973Suspension 41%
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 2004 Lexus IS200s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score