Used car guide

2016 Mitsubishi ASX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Mitsubishi ASXs, from 3,181 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,181MOT tests in 2025
78%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
7,600typical miles a year
6.1×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Mitsubishi ASXs than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Rigid brake pipes6.1× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    11.5% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.

  • Brake pads1.6× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    16.6% All 2016 cars
    10.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 2.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Track rod ends2.3× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    7% All 2016 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.5% of all 2016 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints10.7× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    3.2% All 2016 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Sub-frame3× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    2.7% All 2016 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2016 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Mitsubishi ASX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    34% 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
    27% 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.

  • Suspension
    21% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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%
20154,464Brakes 39%
20143,650Brakes 42%
20132,345Suspension 46%
20122,009Suspension 49%
20111,928Suspension 55%
20101,419Suspension 57%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Mitsubishi ASXs registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score