Lexus Ls400 (1991)
1991 Lexus Ls400
CarHunch analysed 691 real MOT records for the 1991 Lexus Ls400. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1991 Lexus LS400 has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 53.9%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, which means you're looking at a vehicle that typically needs work before it passes inspection. While dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 12.6%, the low pass rate combined with an average of 1.28 failures per test suggests these cars are aging and accumulating wear.
At 145,000 miles on average, these LS400s have covered considerable ground for their age, yet they're accumulating 5.5 advisories per vehicle on average—pointing to nibbling maintenance costs across multiple systems rather than one catastrophic problem. If you're seriously interested in one, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with Lexus, because the data shows you're unlikely to find one that walks through MOT first time.
What to check before buying a 1991 Lexus Ls400
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Lexus Ls400
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 685 | 53.8% | 1.28 |
| LPG (1%) | 4 | 61.7% | 0.5 |
| Diesel (0%) | 2 | 75% | 1.5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1991 Lexus Ls400 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1991 Lexus Ls400 vehicles fall between 116,707 and 175,461 miles.
1991 Lexus Ls400 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 14 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1991 Lexus Ls400
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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30.9%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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29.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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28.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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27.5%
Oil leak
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25.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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21.3%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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16.8%
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
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13.7%
Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Lexus Ls400?
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