2009 Lexus IS250 2.5L Petrol · FD09 OSA

The most recent DVSA examination on 14 August 2026 resulted in a pass, with a single advisory noting that the offside front tyre is worn close to the legal limit on its inner edge. While the pass is reassuring on the surface, the broader trend across the past four years suggests a vehicle that is becoming increasingly compromised as it ages. The 2026 test was preceded only three weeks earlier by a substantial failure on 24 July 2026, with majors recorded for an illuminated engine management indicator lamp, an electronic stability control warning lamp indicating a fault, excessive parking brake lever movement, and exhaust carbon monoxide content exceeding both manufacturer and default limits at idle. Such emissions and powertrain management faults on a 2.5 litre V6 Lexus of this vintage often point to lambda sensor degradation, vacuum leaks, or catalytic converter efficiency loss, all of which warrant diagnostic investigation before purchase. The 2025 test produced a pass but was preceded by another failure related to brake pipe corrosion, wiper effectiveness, and a position lamp defect, and was accompanied by advisories for shock absorber oil misting, coil spring corrosion, and widespread suspension component corrosion. Taken together, the history depicts a vehicle whose structural and underfloor components are showing progressive corrosion rather than isolated, one-off issues. With 157,416 miles recorded over approximately seventeen years, the vehicle averages around 9,260 miles annually, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for its age and class. There are no conspicuously large gaps between MOT readings that would suggest long periods of standing, nor are there signs of unusually rapid accumulation that would imply hard driving or commercial use. That said, the 2022 to 2026 testing window shows a relatively consistent annual inspection cycle with mileage increments in the region of eight to fifteen thousand miles between tests, indicating regular but moderate use. Mechanically, this is a high overall mileage for a luxury saloon of this generation, and particular attention should be paid to the automatic transmission, which on the IS250 is known to be sensitive to fluid condition and can develop torque converter and solenoid irregularities at this sort of odometer reading. The recurring theme of brake pipe corrosion across every MOT since at least 2022 is the most significant concern in the history and should be treated as a priority inspection point. Both rear brake pipes were first flagged in 2022 and have been noted on every subsequent test, with the 2025 failure escalating the matter to a major when both front-to-rear pipes and the offside front pipe were deemed excessively corroded, including pitting. Although the 2025 pass and 2026 pass confirm that the immediate safety-critical sections were either renewed or remain serviceable for the moment, brake line corrosion tends to progress beneath any surface treatment and can reappear rapidly. A prospective buyer should jack the vehicle and visually inspect the full length of all four brake lines, the fuel lines, and the handbrake cable for surface rust and pitting, paying particular attention to the unions at the rear flexi hoses and where pipes pass near the exhaust downpipe, which is precisely where the 2025 failure identified accelerated deterioration. On a test drive, the brake pedal should feel firm and progressive with no sponginess, pulling, or shudder under heavy braking, and the handbrake should hold the vehicle on a modest incline without excessive lever travel, given that the 2026 test recorded excessive parking brake lever movement. Beyond the documented brake and suspension issues, the underbonnet and underside condition should be scrutinised carefully. The advisories for front and rear shock absorber oil misting noted in both 2024 and 2025 suggest the dampers are beginning to weep, and combined with the corroded coil springs and general suspension component corrosion flagged in 2025, the buyer should listen for clonks, knocks, or floaty secondary ride motions over bumps and undulating road surfaces. Uneven inner-edge tyre wear, as recorded on the nearside front in 2024 and the offside front in 2026, often points to worn suspension bushes, droplink wear, or alignment issues arising from corroded or sagging components, and a four-wheel geometry check is advisable after any suspension work. With the engine management, stability control, and exhaust emissions faults fresh in the 2026 failure record, a thorough diagnostic scan should be commissioned to identify whether the issues were resolved between the 24 July failure and the 14 August pass, or simply cleared without rectification. Finally, despite the consistent annual mileage, age-related items should not be overlooked: the 12V battery, which on a 2009 vehicle is almost certainly due for renewal, should be load tested, the coolant and automatic transmission fluid should be checked for service history and condition, and the tyres should be inspected for sidewall perishing and cracking even where tread depth remains legal, as seventeen-year-old rubber can degrade structurally regardless of use.