Mitsubishi Gto MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mitsubishi Gto appears in 1,360 MOT tests spanning model years 1990–2021, and 78.8% of them passed. That is 4.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.8% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 138 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Gto fails 18.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 21.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 20.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Gto model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 52 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 62 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 42 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 113 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 67 | 85.1% | 14.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2000 | 109 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 100 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 115 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2003 | 161 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 132 | 82.6% | 17.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 118 | 80.5% | 19.5% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 69 | 81.2% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 54 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 174 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 118 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 103 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 93 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.0% | 81 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 66 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.8% | 51 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.0% | 27 |
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 | 138 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 85 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 79 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 75 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 57 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 50 |
| 7 | Wipers | 42 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 42 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.3% | 425 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.2% | 329 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.3% | 262 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.3% | 194 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 193 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.1% | 151 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 139 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 438 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 399 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 257 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 104 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 357 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 296 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 252 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 227 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 228 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Gto
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (7.6% 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 Gto?
78.8% of the 1,360 Mitsubishi Gto MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.3% fail rate, across model years 1990–2021.
What does the Mitsubishi Gto most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, then emissions & environmental (8.7%).
How much does mileage affect Gto MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.7% for cars in the 30-60k band and 21.1% for 150k+, a 2.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,360 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.