Mitsubishi Fto MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 32 model years and 2,254 tests, the Mitsubishi Fto passes its MOT 66.1% of the time. That is 7.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.4%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (21.2%) and lighting & signalling (18.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 561 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.1% versus 40.5%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.7% in 2021 to 32.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fto model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 51 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 169 | 63.3% | 36.7% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 57 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 68 | 60.3% | 39.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 92 | 68.5% | 31.5% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 154 | 64.9% | 35.1% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 290 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 145 | 70.3% | 29.7% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 131 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2003 | 205 | 64.9% | 35.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 217 | 65.4% | 34.6% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 189 | 68.3% | 31.8% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 221 | 62.9% | 37.1% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 116 | 62.1% | 37.9% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 56 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Brakes |
| 2009 | 49 | 53.1% | 46.9% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 21.2% | 478 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 414 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.9% | 381 |
| 4 | Suspension | 15.9% | 359 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 193 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.7% | 129 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.4% | 122 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.8% | 85 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 561 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 484 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 398 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 243 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 176 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 163 |
| 7 | Service brake imbalance | 141 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 126 |
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 | 34.2% | 771 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.0% | 743 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.9% | 516 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 399 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.1% | 385 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 367 |
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 | 74 | 40.5% |
| 30-60k | 101 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 440 | 32.3% |
| 90-120k | 637 | 35.0% |
| 120-150k | 509 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 413 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 581 | 36.7% |
| 2022 | 483 | 34.2% |
| 2023 | 439 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 391 | 32.2% |
| 2025 | 360 | 32.8% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Fto
- Brakes (21.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (16.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Fto?
66.1% of the 2,254 Mitsubishi Fto MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 33.9% fail rate, across model years 1990–2021.
What does the Mitsubishi Fto most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 21.2% of tests, then lighting & signalling (18.4%).
How much does mileage affect Fto MOT results?
Fail rates run at 40.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.1% for 150k+, a 5.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,254 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.