2006 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
6,963 MOT tests on the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer are in this dataset, and 76.7% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2006 Lancer comes out 4.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.2%) and suspension (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 355 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.0% once past 150k — 4.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.4% in 2021 to 20.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 991 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 865 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 526 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 334 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 302 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.2% | 293 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 355 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 313 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 303 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 298 |
| 5 | Linkage pins and bushes | 293 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 242 |
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 | 35.0% | 2,438 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.7% | 2,066 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.3% | 1,621 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 1,089 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 1,058 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.6% | 878 |
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 | 282 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,224 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,420 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,829 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 867 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 333 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,797 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 1,599 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 1,394 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 1,187 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 986 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Lancer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 2006 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 6,963 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2006 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,963 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.