2018 Mitsubishi Outlander — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander passed 90.4% of its 59,426 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and visibility (3.1%) 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 tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,906 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.5% once past 150k.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 9.0% fail against 12.0% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 57,143 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 2,517 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,841 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 1,539 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 1,501 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 821 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 312 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,906 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,328 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 893 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 779 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 475 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 374 |
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 | 21.6% | 12,856 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 9,848 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 4,402 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.9% | 2,914 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 2,177 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 719 |
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 | 13,682 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 27,170 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 12,995 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,895 | 11.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,093 | 9.9% |
| 150k+ | 590 | 11.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 46,328 | 9.0% |
| Diesel | 10,815 | 12.0% |
| Petrol | 2,278 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,650 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 11,872 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 11,893 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 11,963 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 12,048 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Outlander
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Visibility (3.1% 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.
- Brakes (2.6% 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 2018 Mitsubishi Outlanders pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 59,426 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2018 Outlander get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 11.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,426 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.