1998 Lexus LS400 4.0L Petrol · R184 DGY

The Lexus LS400 currently fails the roadworthiness standard following the 11 March 2026 MOT at 118,957 miles, where the tester issued a failure with no defects formally recorded. Prior to this, the vehicle held a clean pass on 10 March 2025 at 117,700 miles, and an earlier pass on 8 March 2024 at 116,464 miles after a failure two days prior at 116,432 miles. The maintenance trend appears broadly stable across the recorded period, with no advisories or defects logged on any pass, though the latest failure without listed defects warrants direct clarification from the testing station. The odometer shows 118,957 miles against a 28-year lifespan, equating to roughly 4,248 miles per year. Annual increments are consistently low: 1,339 miles between March 2023 and March 2024, 1,236 miles to March 2025, and only 1,257 miles to the 2026 failure. Such restrained use implies extended standing periods, which on a 1998 chassis typically accelerates rubber perishing in suspension bushes and coolant hose degradation rather than mechanical fatigue from distance. A buyer should physically verify why the March 2026 test failed with no defect entries, as DVSA systems occasionally omit data fields. The twin failures in March 2024, both unaccompanied by recorded faults, suggest administrative or presentation issues at test rather than confirmed component breakdown, but the coil springs, subframe mounts, and brake calipers must still be inspected for corrosion and seizure given the vehicle's age and low-use profile. Given the absence of advisories across five years of testing, previous keepers likely stored the car dry and limited winter running. Nevertheless, structural integrity around sills and suspension arms demands underside inspection for hidden rust, and flexible components such as wishbone bushes should be assessed for cracking from inactivity before any purchase commitment.