2020 Mitsubishi Asx — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 443 MOT tests, the 2020 Mitsubishi Asx recorded a 95.0% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 8.0% of the time, so this is 3.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.5%) and tyres (1.8%) 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 tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 22 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.5% | 20 |
| 2 | Tyres | 1.8% | 8 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.1% | 5 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 2 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 1 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 22 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 5 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 2 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2 |
| 6 | Attachment | 1 |
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 | 16.3% | 72 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 50 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.1% | 36 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 14 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 9 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 1 |
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 | 254 | 3.5% |
| 30-60k | 167 | 7.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 134 | 2.2% |
| 2024 | 152 | 6.6% |
| 2025 | 149 | 6.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Asx
On a 2020 Asx, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.5% 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.
- Tyres (1.8% 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.
- Brakes (1.1% 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.
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 2020 Mitsubishi Asxs pass their MOT?
95.0% of the 443 2020 Mitsubishi Asx MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mitsubishi Asx?
Visibility, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (1.8%).
Does the 2020 Asx get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.5% in the 0-30k band to 7.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 443 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.