2017 Mitsubishi Eclipse — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Mitsubishi Eclipse passed 90.1% of its 575 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (12.8% fail rate), the 2017 Eclipse comes out 2.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and brakes (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.9% once past 60-90k — 2.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.6% in 2021 to 6.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 22 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 17 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 26 |
| 2 | Wipers | 19 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 19 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
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 | 24.3% | 140 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.6% | 124 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 35 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.6% | 32 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 3 |
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 | 171 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 305 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 104 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 117 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 114 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 127 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 113 | 6.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Eclipse
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (3.8% 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.
- Visibility (3.0% 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.
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 2017 Mitsubishi Eclipses pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 575 2017 Mitsubishi Eclipse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by brakes (3.8%).
Does the 2017 Eclipse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 575 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.