Used car guide

2002 Lexus IS: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Lexus IS first registered in 2002: we looked at the 758 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

758MOTs of 2002 cars, done in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 60%)
5,000typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for rust around sub-frame mountings

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2002 Lexus IS?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2002 Lexus IS than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings3.3× usual
    Lexus IS
    4.6% All 2002 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.4% of all 2002 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

Rigid brake pipes: 4.1% here, against 17.7% of all 2002 cars. Coil springs: 3.8% here, against 10.4% of all 2002 cars.

Common 2002 Lexus IS MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2002 Lexus IS MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% 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
    30% 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
    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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2002 Lexus IS

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the rust around sub-frame mountings? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2002 Lexus IS as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Lexus IS?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Lexus IS compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2021–Too few tests
2020554Tyres 25%
20191,154Tyres 28%
20181,467Tyres 25%
20171,555Tyres 26%
20161,952Tyres 28%
20152,772Tyres 28%
20143,001Tyres 29%
20131,607Tyres 30%
2012298Tyres 37%
2011135Tyres 21%
2010145Tyres 30%
2009153Brakes 28%
2008222Tyres 29%
2007203Lights and electrics 33%
2006163Brakes 37%
2005607Tyres 34%
20041,159Suspension 38%
2003973Suspension 41%
2001587Suspension 45%
2000330Suspension 47%
1999206Suspension 38%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Lexus IS cars first registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score