2007 Mitsubishi Outlander — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander passed 68.4% of its 9,329 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2007 Outlander comes out 4.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 19.6% of tests against 14.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and rigid brake pipes — ball joint alone was recorded 835 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.1% versus 25.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 45.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.6% | 1,832 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 1,358 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 1,044 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.5% | 697 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 537 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.5% | 509 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 835 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 738 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 635 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 624 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 602 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 560 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 45.0% | 4,199 |
| 2 | Suspension | 44.0% | 4,109 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 2,707 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.9% | 2,047 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 1,383 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.8% | 1,378 |
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 | 109 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 675 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,246 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,406 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,885 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,990 | 31.7% |
| Petrol | 339 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,594 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 2,354 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 1,921 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 1,413 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 1,047 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Outlander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.6% 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 (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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
How many 2007 Mitsubishi Outlanders pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 9,329 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Suspension, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.6%).
Does the 2007 Outlander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,329 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.