2019 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 265 MOT tests, the 2019 Mitsubishi Lancer recorded a 91.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (8.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.0%) and emissions & environmental (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rear fog lamp and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 18 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.5% in the 60-90k band and 16.7% in the 120-150k band, a 9.1-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 8.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.4% in 2021 to 8.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 16 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 10 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 3 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 8 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 5 | Washers | 6 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 4 |
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 | 8.3% | 22 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.3% | 22 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 16 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 14 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 12 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 93 | 7.5% |
| 90-120k | 69 | 7.2% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 62 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 52 | 3.9% |
| 2024 | 37 | 2.7% |
| 2025 | 37 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Lancer
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (3.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2019 Mitsubishi Lancers pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 265 2019 Mitsubishi Lancer MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.8%).
Does the 2019 Lancer get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 60-90k band to 16.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 265 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.