Mitsubishi Lancer (2005)
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
CarHunch analysed 4,485 real MOT records for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2005 Lancer's 78.1% pass rate sits just below the UK average of 80%, suggesting broadly average reliability for its age—nothing alarming, but not a standout performer either. However, nearly 29% of these cars have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is substantially higher than typical and worth taking seriously during any pre-purchase inspection.
These Lancers average around 60,000 miles, which is reasonable for 19-year-old cars, yet they're racking up 3.33 failures and 16.7 advisories per test—indicating that when they do fail, it's often multiple issues at once. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on structural rust, suspension wear, and any history of the dangerous defects flagged in MOT records, as the advisory count suggests these cars need careful attention to preventative maintenance.
The 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer has a decent first-time pass rate (78.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 4,485 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 4,485 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,485 Mitsubishi Lancer cars.
Before you buy a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
Based on MOT data from 4,485 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
28.8% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 4,468 | 78.1% | 3.34 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 33,002 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer 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.
Half of all 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles fall between 42,688 and 77,898 miles.
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 27% of 2005 Mitsubishi Lancers are still active.
Numbers are declining — 860 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (27% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer stacks up against a rival.