Used car guide

2008 Lexus IS220: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Lexus IS220s, from 667 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

667MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
7,400typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Lexus IS220s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Headlights1.8× usual
    Lexus IS220
    19.6% All 2008 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 4.3% of all 2008 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.

  • Flexible couplings52× usual
    Lexus IS220
    5.2% All 2008 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

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

  • Battery5.2× usual
    Lexus IS220
    5.2% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.6% here, against 11.3% of all 2008 cars. Exhaust system: 4.3% here, against 9% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Lexus IS220 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    38% 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
    35% 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
    35% 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
    30% 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.

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    10% 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 IS220?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010591Brakes 40%
2009809Brakes 39%
2007913Brakes 40%
2006538Tyres 38%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Lexus IS220s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score