2011 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer passed 74.2% of its 8,458 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (22.7% fail rate), the 2011 Lancer comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.6%) and suspension (10.2%) 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 700 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.4% versus 8.7%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.8% fail against 29.0% for diesel, a 9.2-point gap across 8,458 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 1,064 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 860 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 730 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.4% | 625 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 423 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 397 |
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 | 700 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 589 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 430 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 328 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 283 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 263 |
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 | 34.2% | 2,896 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.0% | 2,456 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.8% | 2,266 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 1,057 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 932 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.5% | 720 |
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 | 207 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,301 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,462 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,479 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,443 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 566 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,550 | 29.0% |
| Petrol | 2,908 | 19.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,906 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 1,893 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 1,755 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 1,560 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 1,344 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Lancer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (8.6% 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 2011 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 8,458 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2011 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,458 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.