Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Lexus Gs300?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Lexus Gs300?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Lexus Gs300?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2008 Lexus Gs300 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

35% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Lexus Gs300 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 264 vehicles, the 2008 Lexus Gs300 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Lexus Gs300?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Lexus Gs300 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (59.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.9% of vehicles), Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (52.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Lexus Gs300?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Lexus Gs300 (2008)

264 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.4% first-time pass rate

2008 Lexus Gs300

CarHunch analysed 264 real MOT records for the 2008 Lexus Gs300. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Lexus GS300 passes its MOT first time in 85.4% of cases, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, which suggests these are mechanically sound cars overall—but the troubling caveat is that 35.2% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above typical thresholds and a genuine buyer concern. With an average of 13.3 advisories per test, these ageing saloons are showing their age cosmetically and in wear items, though actual failures average just 2.26 per vehicle.

At a median mileage of 65,110 for a 16-year-old car, these are relatively low-milers, which partly explains the decent pass rate, but you'll want a pre-purchase inspection to dig into that dangerous defect history—ask the seller specifically about suspension, steering, and brake work, as these are the defects that flag as dangerous on cars of this age and condition.

We have limited data for the 2008 Lexus Gs300 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

85.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

35.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.26

Over 13.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

65k

Middle half: 50k–83k

For context

These stats describe 264 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 264 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 59.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 54.9%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 52.8%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Suspension & steering 14.1%

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Exhaust & emissions 14.1%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 264 Lexus Gs300 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Lexus Gs300

Based on MOT data from 264 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 35.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	261	85.3%	2.28

Colour Breakdown

Based on 13,943 Lexus Gs300 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 21.7%

3,023

Blue 19.9%

2,775

Green 13.3%

1,855

Black 12.5%

1,737

Red 11.4%

1,583

Grey 8.4%

1,172

Bronze 5.1%

717

White 4.5%

632

Gold 1.3%

187

Beige 0.9%

126

Purple 0.8%

117

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Lexus Gs300 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

65,110

typical

49,500

low mileage

82,808

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Lexus Gs300 vehicles fall between 49,500 and 82,808 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,500 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 49,500–82,808 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Lexus Gs300s sit.

⚠ Over 111,790 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Lexus Gs300 — Still on the Road

Most 2008 Lexus Gs300s are still being driven.

150 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 72% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.26

Avg failures per vehicle

13.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Lexus Gs300: All Gs300 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Lexus Gs300 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing