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Mitsubishi Lancer reliability by build year

Coverage 2008-20141 named generationSaloonPETROL / DIESEL
At a glance

Mitsubishi Lancer built around 2011: more fails still not passed 3 days later

Mitsubishi Lancers built around 2011 fail an MOT and still haven’t passed 3 days later more often than similar cars the same age. Look closely at the suspension on any car you view.

Check a Mitsubishi Lancer by number plate

Key figure

10.3% of MOT tests on Mitsubishi Lancers built around 2011 failed and still hadn’t passed 3 days later. For similar cars the same age, it was 6.6%.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Mitsubishi Lancers built around 2011 involves the suspension.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Mitsubishi Lancer's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Lancer's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

M

Mk8 (CY) (2008-2014)

Not enough tests to rate
DIESELPETROL

29.0% fail rate, built around 2012 (13 years old)

Likely between 25.1% and 33.2%

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 27.7%)

From 476 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Pre

Older models (before 2005)

PETROL

11.8% fail rate, built before 2000 (over 25 years old)

Likely between 9.4% and 14.8%

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 25.2%)

From 566 MOT tests at this ageLimited data

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Mitsubishi Lancer.

See every build year for the Mitsubishi Lancer

Side-by-side

Mitsubishi Lancer generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk8 (CY) (2008-2014)
No ratingNot enough tests to rate
No ratingNot enough tests to rate29.0%likely between 25.1% and 33.2%built around 2012 (13 years old)from 476 MOT tests at this age
Older models (before 2005)
No rating
No rating11.8%likely between 9.4% and 14.8%built before 2000 (over 25 years old)from 566 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Lancer, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Mitsubishi Lancer fail rate by age

This chart combines every Mitsubishi Lancer ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
5612.5%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
47629.0%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
1,87031.1%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
1,56329.8%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
1,27730.1%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
1,50627.9%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
94826.6%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
1,16925.4%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
82622.0%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
33511.0%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
1447.6%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
12611.1%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
13815.9%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
56611.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 14 years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 14-year-old Mitsubishi Lancers

These issues come from 14-year-old Mitsubishi Lancers, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Suspension part corroded, but not seriously weakened

    22.9%
    Advisory: 847Fail: 31 (4% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    22.6%
    Advisory: 487Fail: 184 (27% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    22.4%
    Advisory: 573Fail: 53 (8% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    21.1%
    Advisory: 688Fail: 96 (12% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Track rod end ball joint has slight play

    11.4%
    Advisory: 125Fail: 116 (48% of the times it was found)

Based on 1,870 MOT tests on 14-year-old Mitsubishi Lancers, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 14-year-old Mitsubishi Lancers notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Suspension44%
  2. Body & structure + Suspension33%
  3. Suspension + Tyres28%
  4. Body & structure + Brakes28%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 1,207 MOT tests on Mitsubishi Lancer cars built around 2011 (14 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Mitsubishi Lancer.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

21 recalls in all

10 of the 21 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 2 Critical
  • 8 more

Top concerns

  • The air bag inflator might have a different air bag deployment performance than designed providing less protection
  • Airbag may release shrapnel if deployed
  • Activation of a non-dessicated ammonium nitrate inflator with degraded propellant may result in an inflator rupture

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other saloons to compare

Other saloons to compare

  1. 1

    Toyota Avensis

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    26.4%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    5.5%
    Dangerous
    6.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    72.2%

    Lower fail rate: 26.4%, against 31.1% for the Mitsubishi Lancer, both built around 2011.

    4 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    6,306 MOT tests on cars built around 2011

  2. 2

    Volkswagen Passat

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    26.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.7%
    Dangerous
    8.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    83.2%

    Lower fail rate: 26.9%, against 31.1% for the Mitsubishi Lancer, both built around 2011.

    10 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    17,386 MOT tests on cars built around 2011

  3. 3

    Peugeot 508

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    26.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.8%
    Dangerous
    7.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    81%

    Lower fail rate: 26.9%, against 31.1% for the Mitsubishi Lancer, both built around 2011.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    1,449 MOT tests on cars built around 2011

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2011 (14 years old), the Mitsubishi Lancer across all generations combined fails MOTs slightly more often than typical for this age. This is based on 1,870 14-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Mitsubishi Lancer ever sold: 11,000 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2011 (14 years old): 1,870 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.