2018 Mitsubishi Asx — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Mitsubishi Asx passed 91.8% of its 12,045 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (9.9% fail rate), the 2018 Asx comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.9%) and brakes (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 508 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.2% once past 90-120k — 3.5× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 8.1% of the time against 8.2% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.9% | 467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 361 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.9% | 355 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 293 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 126 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 508 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 311 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 263 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 230 |
| 5 | Washers | 74 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 71 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 19.9% | 2,395 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 2,186 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 859 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 526 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 342 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.0% | 124 |
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 | 5,012 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,379 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,399 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 210 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,541 | 8.2% |
| Diesel | 4,504 | 8.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,399 | 5.4% |
| 2022 | 2,423 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 2,375 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 2,395 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 2,453 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Asx
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (3.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
- Tyres (2.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2018 Mitsubishi Asxs pass their MOT?
91.8% of the 12,045 2018 Mitsubishi Asx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mitsubishi Asx?
Visibility, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by brakes (3.0%).
Does the 2018 Asx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,045 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.