2016 Mitsubishi Outlander — MOT failures & pass rate
63,299 MOT tests on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander are in this dataset, and 87.7% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.8%) and tyres (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 1,760 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.9% versus 6.3%.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 11.8% fail against 14.6% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 63,245 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.8% | 3,041 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.0% | 2,525 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 2,369 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.0% | 1,883 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,578 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.3% | 808 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 1,760 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,410 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,172 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 931 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 861 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 824 |
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 | 21.3% | 13,493 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 12,305 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 5,691 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 5,031 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.0% | 2,522 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,138 |
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 | 3,590 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 20,934 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 21,205 | 13.4% |
| 90-120k | 10,424 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,122 | 14.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,022 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 50,807 | 11.8% |
| Diesel | 12,438 | 14.6% |
| Electric | 33 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,463 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 12,469 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 12,694 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 12,819 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 12,854 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Outlander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (4.8% 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.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2016 Mitsubishi Outlanders pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 63,299 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Brakes, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.0%).
Does the 2016 Outlander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,299 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.