Mitsubishi Lancer Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mitsubishi Lancer car check
Is the Mitsubishi Lancer reliable? We analysed 382,912 real MOT tests across 33,260 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mitsubishi Lancer? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mitsubishi Lancer is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mitsubishi Lancer.
Mitsubishi Lancer Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mitsubishi Lancer. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mitsubishi Lancer MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mitsubishi Lancer to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mitsubishi Lancer Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mitsubishi Lancer fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mitsubishi Lancer Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mitsubishi Lancer owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mitsubishi Lancer MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mitsubishi Lancer year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 89.3% | 71,059 | 102,906 | 128,177 |
| 2020 | 237 | 84.8% | 73,827 | 106,169 | 136,157 |
| 2019 | 428 | 87.6% | 77,552 | 108,818 | 146,891 |
| 2018 | 385 | 89.1% | 62,103 | 98,272 | 130,812 |
| 2017 | 583 | 88.5% | 77,616 | 100,519 | 123,007 |
| 2016 | 734 | 85.7% | 70,453 | 96,271 | 131,600 |
| 2015 | 739 | 86.6% | 64,529 | 83,730 | 115,546 |
| 2014 | 430 | 87.9% | 17,952 | 56,774 | 93,511 |
| 2013 | 182 | 79.7% | 61,706 | 82,352 | 93,875 |
| 2012 | 501 | 83.2% | 27,624 | 44,958 | 61,174 |
| 2011 | 25,005 | 76.9% | 41,621 | 66,316 | 95,876 |
| 2010 | 39,337 | 76.4% | 43,762 | 69,237 | 98,546 |
| 2009 | 29,607 | 76.7% | 43,506 | 69,320 | 99,264 |
| 2008 | 46,943 | 76.6% | 38,851 | 63,219 | 94,115 |
| 2007 | 37,823 | 76.0% | 36,204 | 58,831 | 88,350 |
| 2006 | 50,747 | 76.1% | 36,882 | 59,624 | 86,995 |
| 2005 | 64,720 | 75.5% | 37,812 | 60,560 | 87,238 |
| 2004 | 16,237 | 82.3% | 35,835 | 55,396 | 77,000 |
| 2003 | 11,156 | 81.6% | 39,165 | 59,836 | 81,083 |
| 2002 | 3,090 | 81.0% | 38,139 | 54,679 | 79,407 |
How Long Does a Mitsubishi Lancer Last?
Based on 33,260 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles on UK roads.
Mitsubishi Lancer Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mitsubishi Lancer
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.3% MOT pass rate from 75 tests
65.9% MOT pass rate from 2,369 tests
The best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Lancer is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.3% across 75 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Mitsubishi Lancer Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Lancer THIS CAR | 76.3% | 382,912 | 65,400 mi | 30 yrs |
| Mitsubishi L200 | 74.1% | 1,362,678 | 80,302 mi | 29 yrs |
| Mitsubishi Shogun | 71.9% | 1,312,716 | 107,142 mi | 37 yrs |
| Mitsubishi Colt | 72.5% | 950,325 | 59,666 mi | 30 yrs |
| BMW 525 | 74.4% | 724,963 | 109,753 mi | 37 yrs |
Compared to the Mitsubishi L200 (74.1% pass rate) and the Mitsubishi Shogun (71.9% pass rate), the Mitsubishi Lancer outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Mitsubishi Lancer you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mitsubishi LancerShould you buy a used Mitsubishi Lancer?
The Mitsubishi Lancer has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.3% across 382,912 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Mitsubishi Lancer are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (9,095 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (5,710), and position lamp(s) not working (4,694). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Mitsubishi Lancer owner drives around 5,235 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Mitsubishi Lancer models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.