2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 30,142 MOT tests, the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse recorded a 91.3% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.1%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.6%) and visibility (3.5%) 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 1,174 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.2% once past 120-150k — 3.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 1,081 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,061 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 948 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 534 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 307 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 112 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,174 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 982 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 584 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 502 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 245 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 159 |
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 | 24.0% | 7,223 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.6% | 5,905 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 2,043 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 1,208 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 969 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 116 |
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 | 12,363 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 14,297 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,060 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 363 | 17.1% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,907 | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 6,061 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 6,046 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 6,011 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 6,117 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Eclipse
On a 2018 Eclipse, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
- Visibility (3.5% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipses pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 30,142 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by visibility (3.5%).
Does the 2018 Eclipse get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,142 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.