1999 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 839 MOT tests, the 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer recorded a 90.6% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 17.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.3%) and emissions & environmental (5.4%) 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 headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 67 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Lancer fails 6.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.9% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.2 points.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.5% in 2021 to 6.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 53 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 45 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.3% | 28 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 18 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 16 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 10 |
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 | 67 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Wipers | 13 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
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 | 7.6% | 64 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 54 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 48 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 42 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.0% | 34 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.7% | 23 |
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 | 60 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 148 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 329 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 190 | 7.9% |
| 120-150k | 81 | 9.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 148 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 160 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 160 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 184 | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 187 | 6.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Lancer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (3.3% 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.
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 1999 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 839 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.4%).
Does the 1999 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 9.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 839 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.