Mitsubishi Lancer (1990)
1990 Mitsubishi Lancer
CarHunch analysed 457 real MOT records for the 1990 Mitsubishi Lancer. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1990 Mitsubishi Lancer has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.5%, which is notably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars need more attention to keep roadworthy. The good news is that dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 9.6%, so you're not looking at a safety nightmare—just one that needs more maintenance discipline than average.
At nearly 95,000 miles on the clock, these are well-used examples, yet they're averaging 1.38 failures and 3.7 advisories per test, indicating wear-related issues are piling up faster than many competitors from the same era. Before buying one, budget for addressing the common advisory items (suspension, emissions, lights) and treat a pre-purchase inspection by a Mitsubishi-familiar mechanic as essential, not optional.
What to check before buying a 1990 Mitsubishi Lancer
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Mitsubishi Lancer
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Mileage Distribution
Most 1990 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1990 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles fall between 70,303 and 114,350 miles.
1990 Mitsubishi Lancer — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2018 (48% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2018.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1990 Mitsubishi Lancer
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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18.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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17.8%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.6%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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13.6%
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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13.5%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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13.3%
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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13.1%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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12.8%
Oil leak
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mitsubishi Lancer?
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