Used car guide

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Mitsubishi Lancers, from 1,050 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,050MOT tests in 2025

58%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)

7,100typical miles a year

3.3×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Mitsubishi Lancers than on all cars registered in 2011.

Rigid brake pipes3.3× usual

Mitsubishi Lancer
20% All 2011 cars
6.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1% of all 2011 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.
Track rod ends2.9× usual

Mitsubishi Lancer
15.3% All 2011 cars
5.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 9.1%, against 2.6% of all 2011 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.
Sub-frame2.6× usual

Mitsubishi Lancer
15.4% All 2011 cars
5.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.3% of all 2011 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.
Headlights2× usual

Mitsubishi Lancer
11.6% All 2011 cars
5.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 3.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.
Exhaust system1.9× usual

Mitsubishi Lancer
12.1% All 2011 cars
6.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.7% of all 2011 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.

By area

The share of 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

51% 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

39% 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

33% 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

30% 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

15% 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.

Looking at a Mitsubishi Lancer?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2010	1,395	Suspension 54%
2009	962	Suspension 51%
2008	1,260	Suspension 48%
2007	741	Suspension 46%
2006	839	Suspension 43%
2005	892	Suspension 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Mitsubishi Lancers registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score