Mitsubishi I MOT pass rate & common failures
2,801 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi I (2006–2021) give it an 82.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the I comes out 7.1pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests against 5.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, track rod end and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 100 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.5% versus 13.5%.
The electric cars hold up better: 13.4% fail against 20.7% for petrol, a 7.3-point gap across 2,776 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every I model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 845 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 858 | 80.3% | 19.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 130 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 79 | 86.1% | 13.9% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 491 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Brakes |
| 2012 | 379 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 254 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 155 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.3% | 147 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 120 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.2% | 118 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 70 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 68 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 39 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 100 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 96 |
| 3 | Wipers | 84 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 73 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 68 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 67 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 66 |
| 8 | Washers | 59 |
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 | 25.8% | 722 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.2% | 651 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.9% | 640 |
| 4 | Steering | 11.3% | 318 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 295 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 220 |
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 | 734 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,227 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 709 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 121 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,771 | 20.7% |
| Electric | 1,005 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 655 | 15.3% |
| 2022 | 633 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 565 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 490 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 458 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi I
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (5.3% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi I?
82.0% of the 2,801 Mitsubishi I MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.0% fail rate, across model years 2006–2021.
What does the Mitsubishi I most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, then suspension (5.5%).
How much does mileage affect I MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.5% for 90-120k, a 13.0-point difference.
Is the electric or petrol I more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the electric fails 13.4% of the time against 20.7% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,801 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.