2004 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,122 MOT tests, the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer recorded an 89.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% 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 (5.3%) and emissions & environmental (5.0%) 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 aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 129 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.4% versus 5.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 12.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 112 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 105 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.4% | 71 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 67 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 54 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 36 |
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 | 129 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 54 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 42 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 42 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 39 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 34 |
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 | 12.5% | 266 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 258 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 157 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 151 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 97 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.3% | 91 |
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 | 77 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 497 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 953 | 10.1% |
| 90-120k | 401 | 11.7% |
| 120-150k | 114 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 13.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 472 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 448 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 416 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 412 | 9.7% |
| 2025 | 374 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Lancer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (3.4% 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 2004 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 2,122 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.0%).
Does the 2004 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,122 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.