Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Outlander (2006)

321 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.9% first-time pass rate

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander

CarHunch analysed 321 real MOT records for the 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 321 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander passes its MOT first time in 73.9% of cases, below the UK average of 80%, which suggests reliability concerns worth investigating before purchase. More worryingly, nearly 46% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making this a real buyer concern that warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

These Outlanders are averaging 67,137 miles at test time, which is reasonable for their age, but they're accumulating an average of 4.33 failures and 28.4 advisories per vehicle—well above what you'd expect for a well-maintained used car. Before committing to one, get a full mechanical inspection focusing on the systems that have failed most frequently in this cohort, and factor in the likely cost of addressing multiple advisory issues.

The 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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
73.9%
UK average ~80%
Below average
Dangerous (ever)
45.8%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
4.33
Over 15.4 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
64k
Middle half: 51k–79k
For context
⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 28.4 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 321 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 321 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 70.8%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · 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.
Tyre wear 57.5%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Other issues 21%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Wipers & washers 20%
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively
Suspension & steering 19.9%
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 321 Mitsubishi Outlander cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander

Based on MOT data from 321 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.8% 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.
  • 🔍 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (96%) 307 73.9% 4.31

Colour Breakdown

Based on 77,404 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 27.4%
21,243
White 20.8%
16,104
Grey 19.8%
15,298
Silver 10.5%
8,121
Red 9.2%
7,116
Blue 7.9%
6,145
Brown 4.1%
3,145
Orange 0.2%
168
Bronze 0%
35
Gold 0%
13
Green 0%
9
Beige 0%
7

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander 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.

63,552
typical
50,597
low mileage
78,638
high mileage

Half of all 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles fall between 50,597 and 78,638 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 50,597 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.
50,597–78,638 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Mitsubishi Outlanders sit.
Over 106,161 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 24% of 2006 Mitsubishi Outlanders are still active.

Numbers are declining — 65 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (24% of peak).

268 65 2014 2025

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

15.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.33
Avg failures per vehicle
28.4
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Mitsubishi Outlander: All Outlander years → Which year to buy? →
2003 2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

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Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on