Used car guide

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Mitsubishi Lancers, from 892 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

892MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
4,200typical miles a year
5.6×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link bushes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Mitsubishi Lancers than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes5.6× usual
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    9.6% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.4% of all 2005 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints2.9× usual
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    4.6% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 6.4% here, against 14.5% of all 2005 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 7.1% here, against 14.9% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% 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
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    24% 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
    22% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    10% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20111,050Suspension 51%
20101,395Suspension 54%
2009962Suspension 51%
20081,260Suspension 48%
2007741Suspension 46%
2006839Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Mitsubishi Lancers registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score