Used car guide

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Mitsubishi Outlander first registered in 2018: we looked at the 32,166 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

32,166MOTs of 2018 cars, done in 2023–2025
86%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 83%)
9,400typical miles a year
14.5×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander?

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

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints14.5× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    2.9% All 2018 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, 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.

Common 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander MOT failures and advisories

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
    21% 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
    9% 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
    5% 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.

Known faults on the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander

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

  1. Has the clutch or flywheel been replaced?
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 14.5× as often on the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi Outlander?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mitsubishi Outlander compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
20215,212Tyres 25%
202016,046Tyres 25%
201926,105Tyres 26%
201726,600Tyres 25%
201633,134Tyres 26%
201538,354Brakes 30%
201421,307Brakes 34%
20136,132Suspension 46%
20123,359Suspension 53%
20113,904Suspension 57%
20104,368Suspension 58%
20093,772Suspension 63%
20084,656Suspension 64%
20073,267Suspension 65%
2006247Suspension 69%
2005432Suspension 60%
2004537Suspension 63%
2003–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mitsubishi Outlander cars first registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score