2008 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,932 MOT tests, the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer recorded a 76.4% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.3%) and suspension (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, track rod end and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 611 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.8% in the 0-30k band and 29.5% in the 150k+ band, a 20.7-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.8% fail against 28.9% for diesel, a 6.1-point gap across 9,929 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 1,319 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 1,083 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 819 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.9% | 584 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 447 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 436 |
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 | 611 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 611 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 413 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 408 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 360 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 355 |
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 | 33.4% | 3,319 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.2% | 3,096 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.8% | 2,268 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 1,397 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.0% | 1,195 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 1,090 |
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 | 295 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,715 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,938 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,663 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,439 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 870 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,536 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 1,393 | 28.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,362 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 2,236 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 2,014 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 1,771 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 1,549 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Lancer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 (8.3% 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 2008 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 9,932 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2008 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,932 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.