Mitsubishi Lancer Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Mitsubishi Lancer fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 18,975 MOT tests across 22 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol
78%
Mitsubishi Lancer pass rate
80%
Mitsubishi average
82%
All-model average
The Mitsubishi Lancer has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, which is 2 points below the Mitsubishi average and 4 points below the average across all models in our data. Older Mitsubishi Lancers tend to have better MOT pass rates than newer ones, with an average decline of 12 percentage points across model years.
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What the Mitsubishi Lancer Fails Its MOT On
Of the 2,852 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Lancer that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
47%Cars and vans the same age: 47% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
40%Cars and vans the same age: 40% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
25%Cars and vans the same age: 26% · Typical repair £80-£450
Steering
19%Cars and vans the same age: 8.4% (the Lancer fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
18%Cars and vans the same age: 14% (the Lancer fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (18% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (15% of failed tests, steering)
- Stop lamp: not working (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Mitsubishi Lancer Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Lancer year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Mitsubishi Lancer Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 12% | - |
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 95% | 3% | - |
| 2017 | Petrol | 2.0L | 92% | 8% | - |
| 2016 | Petrol | 2.0L | 94% | 6% | - |
| 2015 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 9% | - |
| 2014 | Petrol | 2.0L | 96% | 4% | - |
| 2012 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 9% | - |
| 2011 | Petrol | 2.0L | 73% | 26% | 77% (-4) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 1.8L | 72% | 27% | 75% (-3) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.8L | 76% | 23% | 75% (+1) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 1.8L | 77% | 22% | 74% (+3) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | 73% (+2) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 22% | 73% (+4) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 1.6L | 78% | 21% | 73% (+5) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.0L | 92% | 7% | - |
| 2003 | Petrol | 2.0L | 93% | 6% | - |
| 2002 | Petrol | 2.0L | 89% | 9% | - |
| 2001 | Petrol | 2.0L | 89% | 10% | - |
| 2000 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 7% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 2.0L | 88% | 11% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 2.0L | 95% | 5% | - |
| 1996 | Petrol | 2.0L | 84% | 14% | - |
Mitsubishi Lancer Running Costs
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Mitsubishi Lancer FAQ
What are the most common Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Lancer that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (47% of the 2,852 failed tests), suspension (40%) and brakes (25%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (18%). Across 18,975 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 78% ended in a pass.
Is the Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
The Mitsubishi Lancer has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, from 18,975 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2011 (73% of 2,326 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars) and the 2010 (72% of 3,172 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2005 (78% of 1,953 tests passed, against 73% for all 2005 cars), the 2006 (77% of 1,902 tests passed, against 73% for all 2006 cars) and the 2008 (77% of 2,818 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Mitsubishi Lancer faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Mitsubishi Lancer typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Mitsubishi Models
Common problems pages for other Mitsubishi models