Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,436 vehicles, the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (63.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (55.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (51.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Mitsubishi Outlander (2012)

1,436 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.9% first-time pass rate

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander

CarHunch analysed 1,436 real MOT records for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander passes its first MOT at 81.9%, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which suggests reasonable baseline reliability—but the concerning part is that 36.4% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the typical threshold. This is a meaningful risk factor for a used buyer to investigate closely, particularly around brake and suspension systems.

At a median mileage of 75,352 miles for a 12-year-old model, these Outlanders show fairly moderate use, yet they average 2.4 failures and 21.8 advisories per test, indicating wear and minor issues are accumulating steadily. Before purchasing, have a pre-buy inspection focus on the vehicle's full MOT history and any past dangerous defect records, since one-third of the fleet has flagged serious problems.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander has a decent first-time pass rate (81.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

81.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

36.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.4

Over 12.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

75k

Middle half: 61k–93k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 21.8 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 1,436 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,436 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 63.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 55.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 48.6%

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 38.2%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded

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 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,436 Mitsubishi Outlander cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander

Based on MOT data from 1,436 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.4% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	1,424	81.9%	2.41

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%

Gold 0%

Green 0%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 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.

75,352

typical

60,695

low mileage

93,088

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles fall between 60,695 and 93,088 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 60,695 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.

✓ 60,695–93,088 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Mitsubishi Outlanders sit.

⚠ Over 125,668 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Mitsubishi Outlanders are still being driven.

994 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 72% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

12.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.4

Avg failures per vehicle

21.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Outlander: All Outlander years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing