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Common problems by part

Mitsubishi Lancer body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 5,815 MOT tests · Updated

At 14 years, 4.6 in 100 MOT tests of the Mitsubishi Lancer failed on body and structure, against 5.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,815 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 270 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 10 ages from 11 to 20 years, 37,292 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases, 2.6 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

4.6 fails per 100 MOT tests at 14 years, against 5.9 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 14 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Mitsubishi Lancer body and structure fails by age

Mitsubishi Lancer body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mitsubishi Lancer. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.051011 years: 4.1 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 1,544 MOT tests1112 years: 5.2 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 3,464 MOT tests1213 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 4,549 MOT tests1314 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 5,815 MOT tests1415 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 5,249 MOT tests1516 years: 4.8 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 4,642 MOT tests1617 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 4,578 MOT tests1718 years: 4.7 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 3,298 MOT tests1819 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 2,545 MOT tests1920 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 1,608 MOT tests20
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mitsubishi Lancer All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
111,5444.13.5
123,4645.24.3
134,5494.65.0
145,8154.65.9
155,2494.56.7
164,6424.87.6
174,5784.48.3
183,2984.78.7
19*2,5453.49.0
20*1,6082.69.2

All first-use years of the Mitsubishi Lancer pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the body and structure at 14 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

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How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one Mitsubishi Lancer, not the average

The figures here describe Mitsubishi Lancer cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mitsubishi Lancer problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mitsubishi Lancer have more body and structure problems than other cars?

4.6 in 100 MOT tests at 14 years, against 5.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 5,815 MOT tests).

How common are Mitsubishi Lancer body and structure problems?

4.6 in 100 MOT tests at 14 years failed on body and structure, against 5.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,815 MOT tests).

What is the most common Mitsubishi Lancer body and structure fail?

2.6 in 100 MOT tests at 14 years: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (153 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 37,292 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare