2001 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 710 MOT tests, the 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer recorded an 89.3% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.8% of the time, so this is 17.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.5%) and emissions & environmental (4.9%) 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 rear fog lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 30 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.3% versus 2.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 10.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.2% in 2021 to 8.1% 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% | 53 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 35 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 21 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.7% | 19 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 14 |
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 | 30 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 21 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 18 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | Brakes | 10.8% | 77 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 66 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 47 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 33 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 31 |
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 | 47 | 2.1% |
| 30-60k | 140 | 7.9% |
| 60-90k | 308 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 139 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 148 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 128 | 10.9% |
| 2023 | 144 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 142 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 148 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Lancer
On a 2001 Lancer, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (3.0% 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
How many 2001 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 710 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.9%).
Does the 2001 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 710 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.