Used car guide

2010 Mitsubishi ASX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Mitsubishi ASXs, from 1,419 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,419MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
8,000typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Mitsubishi ASXs than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Rigid brake pipes3.1× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    21% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Sub-frame2.6× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    18.4% All 2010 cars
    7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.4% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Track rod ends3× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    16.7% All 2010 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 2.7% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Exhaust system2× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    15.3% All 2010 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Engine oil leaks1.8× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    17.9% All 2010 cars
    10.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Better than most

Coil springs: 4.7% here, against 11.4% of all 2010 cars. Headlights: 2.3% here, against 6.8% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Mitsubishi ASX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    57% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    46% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Mitsubishi ASX?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021510Tyres 19%
20201,486Tyres 22%
20191,613Tyres 27%
20182,189Brakes 28%
20173,974Brakes 34%
20163,181Brakes 34%
20154,464Brakes 39%
20143,650Brakes 42%
20132,345Suspension 46%
20122,009Suspension 49%
20111,928Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Mitsubishi ASXs registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score