Used car guide

2010 Lexus IS220: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Lexus IS220s, from 591 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

591MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
7,900typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Lexus IS220s than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Headlights1.9× usual
    Lexus IS220
    13% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 3.6% of all 2010 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.9× usual
    Lexus IS220
    13% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 5.4% here, against 11% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Lexus IS220 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    40% 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
    36% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    28% 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
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    5% 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 IS220?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2009809Brakes 39%
2008667Brakes 38%
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 2010 Lexus IS220s registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score