2009 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer passed 74.9% of its 7,926 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 25.3%, so the 2009 Lancer sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.8%) 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 track rod end, position lamp and rigid brake pipes — track rod end alone was recorded 600 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.1% in the 0-30k band and 31.0% in the 150k+ band, a 22.9-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.9pp more often than petrol ones (29.0% vs 23.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 1,093 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 863 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 736 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.8% | 539 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 383 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 375 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 600 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 553 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 361 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 345 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 328 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 252 |
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 | 35.3% | 2,798 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.4% | 2,649 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.9% | 1,976 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 1,201 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 948 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 688 |
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 | 160 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 916 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,293 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,257 | 27.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,475 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 816 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,306 | 23.2% |
| Diesel | 2,620 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,903 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 1,749 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 1,636 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 1,424 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 1,214 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Lancer
On a 2009 Lancer, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% 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 (9.3% 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 2009 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 7,926 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2009 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,926 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.