2016 Mitsubishi Mirage — MOT failures & pass rate
7,705 MOT tests on the 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage are in this dataset, and 89.6% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (15.5% fail rate), the 2016 Mirage comes out 5.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and brakes (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 265 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.5% versus 7.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 437 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 262 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 255 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 246 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 51 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 41 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 265 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 190 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 175 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 158 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 145 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 84 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.9% | 1,761 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 1,455 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 412 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 318 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 250 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 141 |
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 | 3,528 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,259 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 794 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 15.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,515 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 1,541 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 1,554 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 1,524 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 1,571 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Mirage
On a 2016 Mirage, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (3.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.3% 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 2016 Mitsubishi Mirages pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 7,705 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by brakes (3.4%).
Does the 2016 Mirage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 15.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,705 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.