Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,520 vehicles, the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse are: Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (33.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (32% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (31.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mitsubishi Eclipse (2018)

5,520 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.3% first-time pass rate

2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse

CarHunch analysed 5,520 real MOT records for the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse is notably reliable, with a 90.3% first-time pass rate well above the UK average of 80%, and only 19.4% of vehicles ever flagged for dangerous defects—a borderline concern but not a major red flag. The low average failure count of 0.64 per vehicle confirms these cars are holding up well mechanically.

These Eclipses show sensible mileage for their age at just over 35,000 miles median, suggesting they've been reasonably looked after by previous owners. The high advisory count of 5.7 per vehicle points to minor wear items rather than serious problems—expect things like brake pad wear or fluid top-ups rather than structural issues, so budget for routine maintenance when you buy one.

The 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90.3%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

90.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.64

Over 5.7 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

35k

Middle half: 26k–45k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,520 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,520 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 33.5%

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 31.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 11.9%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,520 Mitsubishi Eclipse cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Based on MOT data from 5,520 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 9,913 Mitsubishi Eclipse vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 23.2%

2,302

Red 20.5%

2,029

Black 18%

1,784

Grey 16.7%

1,652

Silver 8%

795

Bronze 7%

695

Blue 5.9%

586

Green 0.5%

Maroon 0.2%

Orange 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

35,105

typical

26,089

low mileage

45,083

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse vehicles fall between 26,089 and 45,083 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,089 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 26,089–45,083 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipses sit.

⚠ Over 60,862 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipses are still on the road.

Strong survival — 5,316 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.64

Avg failures per vehicle

5.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Eclipse: All Eclipse years → Which year to buy? →

2017 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?