Mitsubishi Lancer (1993)
1993 Mitsubishi Lancer
CarHunch analysed 578 real MOT records for the 1993 Mitsubishi Lancer. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1993 Mitsubishi Lancer has a 70.2% first-time pass rate, sitting 9.8 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, which signals reliability concerns for a car now over 30 years old. The 11.2% dangerous defect rate is moderate but worth noting if you're buying one—it's not alarming, but it means roughly one in nine cars tested have had a serious safety issue.
These Lancers are running at a sensible 96,309 miles median for their age, yet they're still averaging 1.67 failures per test, suggesting wear-related problems are common rather than exceptional. Budget for regular remedial work: the 4.9 advisories per vehicle flag ongoing maintenance needs, so treat any purchase as a project requiring a pre-buy inspection from a trusted mechanic who can assess suspension, braking, and corrosion—the typical weak points on cars of this vintage.
What to check before buying a 1993 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
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 574 | 70.2% | 1.67 |
| Diesel (1%) | 3 | 54.6% | 2 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 87.5% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1993 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 1993 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles fall between 75,518 and 115,358 miles.
1993 Mitsubishi Lancer — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (20% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1993 Mitsubishi Lancer
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
23.6%
Oil leak
-
22.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
21.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
14.8%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
-
13.9%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
13.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
13.1%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
-
12%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1993. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mitsubishi Lancer?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.