2010 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,677 MOT tests, the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer recorded a 73.7% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (24.1% fail rate), the 2010 Lancer comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.3%) and suspension (11.6%) 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 962 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.7% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 7.9pp more often than petrol ones (30.0% vs 22.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.6% 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% | 1,554 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.6% | 1,350 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,104 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.5% | 878 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 593 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 580 |
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 | 962 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 872 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 706 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 449 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 399 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 360 |
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 | 35.9% | 4,187 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.5% | 3,913 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.6% | 3,109 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 1,640 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 1,454 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.8% | 1,028 |
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 | 217 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,455 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,391 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,558 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,119 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 926 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,198 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 5,479 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,776 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 2,601 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 2,437 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 2,120 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 1,743 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Lancer
On a 2010 Lancer, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (11.6% 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 (9.4% 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 2010 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 11,677 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by suspension (11.6%).
Does the 2010 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,677 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.