Used car guide · 1991–2026

Mitsubishi Lancer common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mitsubishi Lancer, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 29,239 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

29,239MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
8,720on the UK register
2005best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20262019201720162015201420122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819961991

What usually goes wrong with a Mitsubishi Lancer?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mitsubishi Lancer in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mitsubishi Lancer MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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-frame

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

Diesel

  • Sub-frame

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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 ends

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    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.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    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.

Mitsubishi Lancer MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer did best (68% passed first time, 11 points above all 2005 cars) and the 2011 did worst (59%, 3 points below all 2011 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201993%85% +8118 (small sample)
201792%80% +12149 (small sample)
201691%77% +14141 (small sample)
201591%74% +17171 (small sample)
201493%70% +23100 (small sample)
201280%64% +16105 (small sample)
201159%62% -33,602
201059%60% -14,900
200961%59% +23,378
200864%57% +74,268
200764%57% +72,556
200665%56% +92,914
200568%57% +113,064
200486%57% +291,113
200387%57% +30726
200288%58% +30178 (small sample)
200187%60% +27409 (small sample)
200088%61% +27357 (small sample)
199988%63% +25506
199888%65% +23361 (small sample)
199680%66% +14123 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mitsubishi Lancer

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the Mitsubishi Lancer as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 11.5× as often on the Mitsubishi Lancer as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 5.9× as often on the Mitsubishi Lancer as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi Lancer?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score