Used car guide

1998 Lexus LS400: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1998 Lexus LS400s, from 218 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 218 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

218MOT tests in 2025
75%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 66%)
5,500typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1998 Lexus LS400s than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.8× usual
    Lexus LS400
    13.8% All 1998 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.9% of all 1998 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.

By area

The share of 1998 Lexus LS400 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% 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
    30% 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
    27% 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
    22% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    13% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
1997118Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1998 Lexus LS400s registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score