Used car guide

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Mitsubishi Lancers, from 839 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

839MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
4,400typical miles a year
10.1×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link bushes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Mitsubishi Lancers than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes10.1× usual
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    11.1% All 2006 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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 joints4.8× usual
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    6.2% All 2006 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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.

  • Rear fog light3.4× usual
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    4.1% All 2006 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 6.8% here, against 13.7% of all 2006 cars. Shock absorbers: 3.2% here, against 7.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% 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
    29% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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
    13% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    10% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20111,050Suspension 51%
20101,395Suspension 54%
2009962Suspension 51%
20081,260Suspension 48%
2007741Suspension 46%
2005892Suspension 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Mitsubishi Lancers registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score