EV ZoneMitsubishi
Reliability
Mitsubishi has a 70.7% MOT pass rate across 259,073 tests, sitting just below the national average.
70.7% MOT pass rate based on 259,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 9 Mitsubishi models.
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Are Mitsubishi cars reliable?
Mitsubishi vs other premium brands
Mitsubishi sits just below the 71.9% national average at 70.7%. The brand's lineup is dominated by rugged vehicles, with the L200 pickup and Outlander SUV accounting for roughly half of all tests.
These are vehicles that typically cover harder miles in demanding conditions, which could be a factor in the below-average pass rate. Across 259,073 tests in 2025, Mitsubishi finishes fractionally behind the national curve.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Mitsubishi MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Mitsubishi vehicles track close to the national average through most age bands. At age 4, Mitsubishi passes at 86.5% vs 86.2% national, and ages 4 through 9 all sit slightly ahead of the national curve. From age 10 onwards, the pattern shifts, and Mitsubishi typically passes up to about 3 percentage points below the national average through the older-vehicle bands.
At age 20, Mitsubishi passes at 57.2% vs 56.9% national, so the gap closes again for the oldest surviving examples. This may reflect survivorship, where only well-maintained vehicles remain in service that long.
What are the most common Mitsubishi faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Mitsubishi, ranked by the share of failed tests they were found on. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Mitsubishi failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Mitsubishi vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (found on 24.95% of failed Mitsubishi tests)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Ball joint excessively worn (found on 9.95% of failed Mitsubishi tests)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Does not clear the windscreen effectively (found on 9.08% of failed Mitsubishi tests)
- Less than 1.5 mm thick (found on 8.45% of failed Mitsubishi tests)
A brake pad measured below the minimum safe thickness of 1.5mm. Immediate replacement required to maintain braking performance.
- Excessively corroded (found on 6.95% of failed Mitsubishi tests)
Suspension, found on 33.42% of failed tests, is Mitsubishi's second most common failure category, just above the 32.44% national figure. This aligns with the brand's SUV and pickup focus, where suspension components may see more wear from off-road use and heavier loads. Lamps and electrical leads at 42.30%, above the 38.2% national. Brakes at 29.58% is above the 22.43% national, another likely consequence of the heavier vehicle profile.
Which Mitsubishi models are most reliable?
Top 15 Mitsubishi models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 71.9%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi L200 | 65,529 | 68.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 60,824 | 74.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Mitsubishi Asx | 25,378 | 73.0% | Brakes |
| Mitsubishi Shogun | 22,755 | 69.2% | Suspension |
| Mitsubishi Colt | 18,890 | 53.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 10,082 | 79.8% | Tyres |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 9,220 | 85.7% | Brakes |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 8,346 | 66.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Mitsubishi L200 DOUBLE CAB | 6,977 | 55.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
The Outlander scores highest among high-volume models at 74.09% (60,824 tests), above the national average. The L200 pickup sits at 68.49% (65,529 tests). The ASX sits mid-pack at 73.00% (25,378 tests), and the Shogun at 69.18% (22,755 tests). The Colt is the weakest at 53.62% (18,890 tests), well below the national average. The Colt is an older, now-discontinued model, which typically explains part of the lower pass rate.
How many miles do Mitsubishi vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Mitsubishi vehicles typically cover more miles than the national average. At age 4, Mitsubishi averages 46,000 miles vs 39,820 national. By age 10, the gap widens to 91,618 vs 82,514. This reflects the pickup and SUV profile, where L200s and Outlanders are often used for work or long-distance driving rather than short urban trips.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Mitsubishi safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Mitsubishi when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Mitsubishi via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Mitsubishi's full history?
Before you buy any used Mitsubishi, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Mitsubishi been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Mitsubishi?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Mitsubishi been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Mitsubishi been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Mitsubishi worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Mitsubishi's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Mitsubishi?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Mitsubishi insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Mitsubishi Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test data, 2025, Great Britain (published June 2026). First MOT test of the year for each class 4 vehicle, with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.