Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 Lexus Is300?

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 2001 Lexus Is300?

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 2001 Lexus Is300?

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 2001 Lexus Is300 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% 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 2001 Lexus Is300 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 267 vehicles, the 2001 Lexus Is300 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 Lexus Is300?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 Lexus Is300 are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (84.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (81.2% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.5% 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 2001 Lexus Is300?

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 Is300 (2001)

267 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.7% first-time pass rate

2001 Lexus Is300

CarHunch analysed 267 real MOT records for the 2001 Lexus Is300. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2001 IS300's first-time pass rate of 76.7% trails the UK average of 80%, and nearly 38% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a genuine concern for buyers to factor into their decision. This isn't a reliability winner, and you should budget accordingly for repairs before purchase.

At nearly 93,500 miles on average, these 23-year-old cars show typical wear for their age, but the 4.12 average failures per MOT test combined with 22.3 advisories per vehicle paint a picture of mounting small issues rather than catastrophic problems. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the cooling system and suspension components—two areas where this generation commonly develops costly faults—and expect to spend on preventive maintenance once you own one.

We have limited data for the 2001 Lexus Is300 — 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

76.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

37.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.12

Over 17 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

90k

Middle half: 74k–109k

For context

These stats describe 267 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 267 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 84.9%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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.

Brake wear 52%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Other issues 37.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · …

Suspension & steering 24.9%

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 267 Lexus Is300 cars.

Before you buy a 2001 Lexus Is300

Based on MOT data from 267 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37.8% 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%)	263	76.9%	4.1

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,982 Lexus Is300 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 41.4%

820

Blue 23.1%

458

Black 13.2%

261

Red 6.5%

129

Grey 5.8%

115

Green 5.8%

115

White 2.6%

Beige 1.7%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 Lexus Is300 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.

90,434

typical

73,833

low mileage

109,265

high mileage

Half of all 2001 Lexus Is300 vehicles fall between 73,833 and 109,265 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 73,833 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.

✓ 73,833–109,265 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Lexus Is300s sit.

⚠ Over 147,507 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Lexus Is300 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 26% of 2001 Lexus Is300s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 51 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (26% of peak).

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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.12

Avg failures per vehicle

22.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Lexus Is300: All Is300 years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Lexus →

Compare with another model

See how the 2001 Lexus Is300 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing