Mitsubishi Lancer (2011)

1,841 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79% first-time pass rate

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer

CarHunch analysed 1,841 real MOT records for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer sits just below the UK average with a 79% first-time pass rate, but the real concern is that 42.4% of these cars have suffered a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels for a buyer considering this model. Diesel versions perform noticeably worse, passing first time only 76.8% of the time compared to 83.2% for petrol engines, making the petrol option the more reliable choice.

At 74,851 miles median, these Lancers show typical wear for their age, yet they're racking up an average of 3 failures and nearly 20 advisories per MOT test, suggesting ageing components are becoming costly problems. If you're looking at a diesel Lancer, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the engine bay and emissions systems; the petrol alternative deserves serious consideration for lower running costs.

Below average reliability In line with UK average
79%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
74,851
typical mileage
57,705–90,833 middle half
42.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3
avg MOT failures per car
over 13 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 6.4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

83.2%
Petrol
621 vehicles
76.8%
Diesel
1,219 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2011 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.
  • ⚠️ 42.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 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.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (66%) 1,219 76.8% 3.34
Petrol (34%) 621 83.2% 2.34
LPG (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 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.

57,705
low mileage
74,851
typical
90,833
high mileage

Half of all 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles fall between 57,705 and 90,833 miles.

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer — Still on the Road

982 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 57% of the peak remain.

1,737 982 2014 2025

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

13
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3
Avg failures per vehicle
19.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 47.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 46.3%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 41%
    Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
  • 36%
    Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened
  • 34.4%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
  • 33.5%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 32.2%
    Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
  • 31.9%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011. 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.

UK

Other model years — Mitsubishi Lancer:

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010