Used car guide

2004 Lexus IS: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Lexus IS first registered in 2004: we looked at the 3,893 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,893MOTs of 2004 cars, done in 2023–2025
65%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
5,200typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for rust around sub-frame mountings

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Lexus IS?

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

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings2.8× usual
    Lexus IS
    3.3% All 2004 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, 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

Engine oil leaks: 7.2% here, against 14.6% of all 2004 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.4% here, against 6.7% of all 2004 cars.

Common 2004 Lexus IS MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Suspension
    37% 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    11% 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
    11% 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 2004 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 2.8× as often on the 2004 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
2021105Tyres 29%
20201,695Tyres 26%
20193,495Tyres 28%
20184,325Tyres 24%
20174,642Tyres 25%
20165,908Tyres 27%
20158,363Tyres 27%
20149,217Tyres 27%
20134,882Tyres 29%
2012904Tyres 31%
2011405Tyres 25%
2010437Tyres 35%
2009506Brakes 29%
2008723Tyres 30%
2007739Tyres 34%
2006627Brakes 37%
2005173Tyres 29%
20033,294Suspension 39%
20022,662Suspension 39%
20012,096Suspension 44%
20001,189Suspension 44%
1999767Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Lexus IS cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score