Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Mitsubishi Outlander 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 122,980 MOT tests across 18 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: large car | Fuel: Petrol, Hybrid, Diesel
84%
Mitsubishi Outlander pass rate
80%
Mitsubishi average
82%
All-model average
The Mitsubishi Outlander has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, which is 4 points above the Mitsubishi average and 2 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Mitsubishi Outlanders pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 16 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Mitsubishi Outlander Fails Its MOT On
Of the 16,530 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Outlander 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
32%Cars and vans the same age: 34% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
30%Cars and vans the same age: 31% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
29%Cars and vans the same age: 21% (the Outlander fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
21%Cars and vans the same age: 24% · Typical repair £50-£300
Steering
16%Cars and vans the same age: 6.8% (the Outlander fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (11% of failed tests, brakes)
- Position lamp: not working (10% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (10% of failed tests, steering)
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 Outlander 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 Outlander 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
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same 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 Outlander 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 | 95% | 3% | - |
| 2019 | Petrol | 2.0L | 92% | 8% | 91% (+1) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 2.0L | 90% | 10% | 89% (+1) |
| 2017 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 88% | 12% | 87% (+1) |
| 2016 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 86% | 13% | 86% (0) |
| 2015 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 83% | 16% | 84% (-1) |
| 2014 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 81% | 19% | 82% (-1) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.2L | 77% | 22% | 80% (-3) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 2.4L | 77% | 22% | 79% (-2) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 2.3L | 75% | 23% | 77% (-2) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 2.4L | 73% | 26% | 75% (-2) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 2.4L | 70% | 30% | 75% (-5) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 2.4L | 69% | 30% | 74% (-5) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.4L | 69% | 30% | 73% (-4) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.4L | 73% | 25% | - |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.4L | 64% | 34% | - |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.4L | 66% | 32% | - |
| 2003 | Petrol | 2.4L | 56% | 40% | - |
Mitsubishi Outlander Running Costs
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Mitsubishi Outlander FAQ
What are the most common Mitsubishi Outlander problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Outlander that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (32% of the 16,530 failed tests), suspension (30%) and brakes (29%). The single most common fault was "Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick" (11%). Across 122,980 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 84% ended in a pass.
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
The Mitsubishi Outlander has an average MOT pass rate of 84%, from 122,980 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 about as often as other cars of the same age.
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2008 (69% of 3,343 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars), the 2009 (70% of 2,665 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars) and the 2007 (69% of 2,251 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. 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 Outlander faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Mitsubishi Outlander 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