Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 3 model years and 9,816 tests, the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed passes its MOT 91.4% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 9.6%, so the Outlander Exceed sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.8%) and tyres (3.7%) 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 headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 402 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Outlander Exceed fails 6.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.5% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.2 points.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 7.2% fail against 9.2% for petrol, a 2.0-point gap across 9,816 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Outlander Exceed model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3,770 | 90.6% | 9.4% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 5,300 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Visibility |
| 2021 | 746 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.8% | 370 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.7% | 365 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 218 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 211 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 63 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 50 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 44 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 402 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 225 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 184 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 97 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 90 |
| 6 | Washers | 61 |
| 7 | Brake discs | 53 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 34 |
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 | 22.4% | 2,202 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 1,356 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 768 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 372 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 226 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 144 |
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 | 4,462 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,288 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 884 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 127 | 9.4% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 6.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,972 | 9.2% |
| Hybrid | 2,844 | 7.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 989 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 2,759 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 3,040 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 3,019 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed
- Visibility (3.8% 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.
- Tyres (3.7% 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 (2.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed?
91.4% of the 9,816 Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.6% fail rate, across model years 2019–2021.
What does the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed most often fail its MOT on?
Visibility, recorded in 3.8% of tests, then tyres (3.7%).
How much does mileage affect Outlander Exceed MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 6.5% for 120-150k, a 0.2-point difference.
Is the hybrid or petrol Outlander Exceed more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 7.2% of the time against 9.2% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,816 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.