2017 Mitsubishi Mirage — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage passed 90.8% of its 6,927 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 13.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and visibility (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 227 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.1% in the 0-30k band and 14.5% in the 90-120k band, a 7.4-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 351 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.4% | 238 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 217 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 160 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 50 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 227 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 151 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 147 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 119 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 115 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 54 |
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 | 18.8% | 1,302 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 1,194 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.1% | 286 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 206 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 205 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 81 |
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 | 4,176 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,231 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 456 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 55 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,356 | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 1,404 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 1,376 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 1,398 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 1,393 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Mirage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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 2017 Mitsubishi Mirages pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 6,927 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by visibility (3.4%).
Does the 2017 Mirage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,927 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.