2008 Mitsubishi Outlander — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander passed 70.4% of its 12,152 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 2.7pp 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 (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and position lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 1,025 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.8% in the 30-60k band and 31.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.0pp more often than petrol ones (30.0% vs 25.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 44.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.7% | 2,024 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 1,700 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,256 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.9% | 962 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 626 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 590 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 1,025 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 958 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 819 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 801 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 710 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 509 |
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 | 44.1% | 5,357 |
| 2 | Brakes | 43.1% | 5,235 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.2% | 3,422 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 2,620 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.6% | 1,900 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 1,860 |
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 | 197 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,050 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,213 | 28.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,057 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,607 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,140 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 1,012 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,088 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 2,906 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 2,508 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 2,105 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 1,545 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Outlander
On a 2008 Outlander, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 2008 Mitsubishi Outlanders pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 12,152 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Suspension, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.0%).
Does the 2008 Outlander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 30-60k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,152 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.