2012 Mitsubishi Asx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,126 MOT tests, the 2012 Mitsubishi Asx recorded an 80.6% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (22.2% fail rate), the 2012 Asx comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.2%) and brakes (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, track rod end and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 581 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 24.0% in the 150k+ band, a 15.5-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.6% fail against 20.8% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 13,120 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.2% | 1,078 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 972 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 736 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 474 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 413 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 370 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 581 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 406 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 348 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 346 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 346 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 337 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.9% | 4,707 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.8% | 3,651 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 3,316 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.8% | 1,161 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 1,050 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 858 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 141 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,674 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,849 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,300 | 22.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,662 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 496 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,192 | 20.8% |
| Petrol | 5,928 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,673 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 2,670 | 17.6% |
| 2023 | 2,692 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 2,590 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 2,501 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Asx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (7.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Mitsubishi Asxs pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 13,126 2012 Mitsubishi Asx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mitsubishi Asx?
Suspension, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.4%).
Does the 2012 Asx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,126 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.