Used car guide

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Mitsubishi Outlanders, from 10,938 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,938MOT tests in 2025
77%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
9,500typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for track rod ends

What stands out

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

  • Track rod ends3.2× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    10% All 2016 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, 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 joints15× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    4.5% All 2016 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.2× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    4.2% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, 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.

  • Sub-frame2.4× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    2.2% 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover1.8× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    3% All 2016 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.6% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.1% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.6% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

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

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    26% 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.

  • Suspension
    25% 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
    10% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20212,495Tyres 25%
20205,304Tyres 26%
20198,674Tyres 27%
201810,790Tyres 25%
20178,824Tyres 26%
201512,549Brakes 31%
20146,984Suspension 37%
20131,947Suspension 50%
20121,046Suspension 61%
20111,166Suspension 62%
20101,304Suspension 62%
20091,049Suspension 64%
20081,182Suspension 65%
2007802Suspension 68%

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