Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Mitsubishi models ranked by MOT fails

Q: Which Mitsubishi models have the fewest MOT fails?

115,972 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years put the Mitsubishi ASX first: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89); ranks 1 to 2 overlap, so it is level with the Mitsubishi Shogun. Next is the Mitsubishi Shogun: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.90).

Q: Which Mitsubishi models fail their MOT most often?

50,777 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years put the Mitsubishi Colt last of the 7 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.14).

Q: How many Mitsubishi models are compared?

7 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 629,140 MOT tests in all; 0 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 629,140 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Mitsubishi ASX ranks first among Mitsubishi models (95% rank range 1–2, level with the Mitsubishi Shogun): no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89) (115,972 MOT tests) ^[1].

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7 models ranked, 0 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 629,140 MOT tests ^[1]
Mitsubishi Shogun is next: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.90) (58,089 MOT tests)
Mitsubishi Colt is last of the 7: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.14) (50,777 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

No model in this list clears the award rule (at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage, with the 95% interval, at 3 or more ages).

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Mitsubishi models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 7 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 7 of 7. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
11–2	Mitsubishi ASXsmall SUV	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.88–0.90)	22.0%all cars: 24.8%	22.7%	115,972at 3 to 15 years	Mitsubishi ASX MOT fail rate · Mitsubishi ASX common problems
21–4	Mitsubishi Shogunlarge SUV	close to averageratio 0.90 (0.89–0.91)	23.9%all cars: 26.6%	25.0%	58,089at 3 to 15 years	Mitsubishi Shogun MOT fail rate · Mitsubishi Shogun common problems
32–5	Mitsubishi Outlanderfamily SUV	close to averageratio 0.91 (0.91–0.92)	19.6%all cars: 21.5%	21.5%	295,635at 3 to 15 years	Mitsubishi Outlander MOT fail rate · Mitsubishi Outlander common problems
42–5	Mitsubishi Eclipse Crossfamily SUV	close to averageratio 0.92 (0.90–0.95)	13.2%all cars: 14.2%	12.9%	45,023at 3 to 7 years	Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross MOT fail rate · Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross common problems
53–5	Mitsubishi Miragecity car	close to averageratio 0.93 (0.92–0.95)	21.0%all cars: 22.5%	18.0%	43,408at 3 to 12 years	Mitsubishi Mirage MOT fail rate · Mitsubishi Mirage common problems
6certain	Mitsubishi Lancerfamily hatchback	about averageratio 0.99 (0.97–1.01)	39.0%all cars: 39.4%	39.2%	20,236at 11 to 15 years	Mitsubishi Lancer MOT fail rate · Mitsubishi Lancer common problems
7certain	Mitsubishi Coltsupermini	close to averageratio 1.14 (1.13–1.16)	44.9%all cars: 39.2%	42.0%	50,777at 10 to 15 years	Mitsubishi Colt MOT fail rate · Mitsubishi Colt common problems

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The top 7 in this list, model by model

1 · About average

Mitsubishi ASX

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.88–0.90), from 115,972 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 22.0% (21.8%–22.2%), against 24.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 22.7%. Rank range 1–2.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.57–1.63× as often as cars the same age (9,551 fails in 116,909 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on steering 1.5–1.6× as often as cars the same age (2,536 fails in 116,909 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 52% diesel, 48% petrol.

2 · About average

Mitsubishi Shogun

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.90, 95% CI 0.89–0.91), from 58,089 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 23.9% (23.6%–24.2%), against 26.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 25.0%. Rank range 1–4.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.0–2.1× as often as cars the same age (1,877 fails in 58,879 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.5–1.6× as often as cars the same age (5,232 fails in 58,879 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

3 · About average

Mitsubishi Outlander

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.91–0.92), from 295,635 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 19.6% (19.5%–19.8%), against 21.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 21.5%. Rank range 2–5.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.3–2.4× as often as cars the same age (7,238 fails in 297,109 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.36–1.40× as often as cars the same age (17,587 fails in 297,109 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 62% hybrid, 27% diesel.

4 · About average

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.92, 95% CI 0.90–0.95), from 45,023 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 13.2% (12.9%–13.5%), against 14.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 12.9%. Rank range 2–5.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.4–1.5× as often as cars the same age (1,609 fails in 45,345 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on visibility 1.3–1.4× as often as cars the same age (1,839 fails in 45,345 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

5 · About average

Mitsubishi Mirage

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.92–0.95), from 43,408 MOT tests at 3 to 12 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.0% (20.6%–21.5%), against 22.5% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 18.0%. Rank range 3–5.

Check before you buy: fails on visibility 1.2–1.3× as often as cars the same age (2,031 fails in 44,082 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a city car; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

6 · About average

Mitsubishi Lancer

Why it ranks here: About as many MOT fails as cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.97–1.01), from 20,236 MOT tests at 11 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 39.0% (38.3%–39.6%), against 39.4% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 39.2%. Rank range 6–6.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.9–3.2× as often as cars the same age (1,785 fails in 20,621 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on emissions and leaks 1.3–1.4× as often as cars the same age (1,275 fails in 20,621 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were 78% petrol, 22% diesel.

7 · About average

Mitsubishi Colt

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.13–1.16), from 50,777 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 44.9% (44.4%–45.3%), against 39.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 42.0%. Rank range 7–7.

Check before you buy: fails on seat belts and airbags 2.2–2.5× as often as cars the same age (1,498 fails in 51,163 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on body and structure 1.7–1.8× as often as cars the same age (4,526 fails in 51,163 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on steering 1.5–1.6× as often as cars the same age (2,228 fails in 51,163 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a supermini; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

How to choose Mitsubishi models with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from about average (Mitsubishi ASX) to about average (Mitsubishi Colt).
0 of the 7 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often; the other 7 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 7 of the 7 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

629,140 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

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Questions people ask

Which Mitsubishi models have the fewest MOT fails?

115,972 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years put the Mitsubishi ASX first: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89); ranks 1 to 2 overlap, so it is level with the Mitsubishi Shogun. Next is the Mitsubishi Shogun: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.90).

Which Mitsubishi models fail their MOT most often?

50,777 MOT tests at 10 to 15 years put the Mitsubishi Colt last of the 7 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.14).

How many Mitsubishi models are compared?

7 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 629,140 MOT tests in all; 0 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 629,140 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.