2000 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer passed 89.8% of its 650 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2000 Lancer comes out 17.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.8% once past 120-150k — 5.4× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 13.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.6% in 2021 to 8.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 49 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 29 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 27 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.5% | 16 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 33 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 14 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 13.2% | 86 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.7% | 76 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.2% | 66 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.4% | 61 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 40 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 20 |
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 | 52 | 3.9% |
| 30-60k | 124 | 5.7% |
| 60-90k | 252 | 9.5% |
| 90-120k | 155 | 12.3% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 147 | 13.6% |
| 2022 | 125 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 116 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 137 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 125 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Lancer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.2% 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
How many 2000 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 650 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2000 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 650 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.