2005 Mitsubishi Outlander — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,200 MOT tests, the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander recorded a 69.9% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.7%) and lighting & signalling (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, track rod end and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 129 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.0% in the 30-60k band and 38.9% in the 150k+ band, a 18.9-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.7% | 200 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 193 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 143 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.2% | 87 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 85 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 66 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 129 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 98 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 85 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 68 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 68 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 62 |
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 | 40.8% | 490 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.3% | 352 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.4% | 317 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 236 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 225 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 168 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 105 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 358 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 457 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 200 | 36.0% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 38.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 355 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 282 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 224 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 204 | 33.8% |
| 2025 | 135 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Outlander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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 2005 Mitsubishi Outlanders pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 1,200 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Suspension, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.1%).
Does the 2005 Outlander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 38.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,200 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.