Diesel Mitsubishi Lancer: MOT pass rate

60.2% of diesel Mitsubishi Lancers pass the MOT first time, measured across 2,043 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 119,014.

Diesel against the other Mitsubishi Lancer versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Mitsubishi Lancer specifically, petrol is the strongest at 75.2%, and this diesel version sits 11.9 points below the 72.1% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Mitsubishi Lancer fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Mitsubishi Lancer had covered 119,014 miles at test, against 86,672 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Mitsubishi Lancer page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Mitsubishi Lancer

1. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 11.2% of tests (8.55x the national rate for this defect)
2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 8.1% of tests (7.56x the national rate for this defect)
3. Warning device shows system malfunction, 2.5% of tests (6.12x the national rate for this defect)
4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 8.3% of tests (3.74x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 17.8% of tests (3.54x the national rate for this defect)
6. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3.2% of tests (3.54x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.4% of tests (3.32x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.7% of tests (3.12x the national rate for this defect)
9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.5% of tests (2.67x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.5% of tests (1.93x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,053 DVSA-tracked diesel Mitsubishi Lancer tests, 2024, split out from the Mitsubishi Lancer's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.96% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Mitsubishi Lancer

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 42.7% of tests (8.25x the national rate for this defect)
2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 38.9% of tests (6.28x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 8% of tests (5.99x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 5.7% of tests (4.62x the national rate for this defect)
5. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 6.8% of tests (4.49x the national rate for this defect)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 8.8% of tests (3.1x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 34.6% of tests (2.59x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 5% of tests (2.49x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 20% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.6% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect), also fails

From 2,053 DVSA-tracked diesel Mitsubishi Lancer tests, 2024.

Other Mitsubishi Lancer fuel types

• Petrol Mitsubishi Lancer - 75.2%

All Mitsubishi Lancer MOT data · Every model