Used car guide

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Mitsubishi Outlanders, from 10,790 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,790MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
9,500typical miles a year
21×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Mitsubishi Outlanders than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints21× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    4.2% All 2018 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0% of all 2018 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 pipes3.8× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    3% All 2018 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2018 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 ends1.8× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    3% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.8% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    22% 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
    14% 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
    6% 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
    5% 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%
20178,824Tyres 26%
201610,938Tyres 27%
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 2018 Mitsubishi Outlanders registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score