Mitsubishi Challenger MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mitsubishi Challenger appears in 1,137 MOT tests spanning model years 1996–2020, and 70.7% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.5% fail rate), the Challenger comes out 2.8pp worse. Its most common failure areas are body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (14.1%) and lighting & signalling (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and component mounting prescribed areas — prescribed areas alone was recorded 94 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 32.2% versus 14.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.1% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Challenger model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 57 | 73.7% | 26.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 631 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2000 | 82 | 69.5% | 30.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2003 | 83 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2004 | 124 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 160 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 159 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 138 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.1% | 126 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 69 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 59 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.6% | 52 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.8% | 43 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 94 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 78 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 76 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 74 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 74 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 71 |
| 7 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 66 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 64 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.7% | 497 |
| 2 | Brakes | 41.2% | 468 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 33.1% | 376 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.5% | 369 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.3% | 208 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.5% | 142 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 100 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 246 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 346 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 413 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 877 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 260 | 29.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 352 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 276 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 211 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 176 | 33.0% |
| 2025 | 122 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Challenger
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi Challenger?
70.7% of the 1,137 Mitsubishi Challenger MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.3% fail rate, across model years 1996–2020.
What does the Mitsubishi Challenger most often fail its MOT on?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 14.1% of tests, then lighting & signalling (14.0%).
How much does mileage affect Challenger MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.0% for cars in the 60-90k band and 32.2% for 150k+, a 18.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,137 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.