Does the Mitsubishi Lancer fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Mitsubishi Lancer records 7.25 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 6.46 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+0.79, 95% interval +0.59 to +0.98). It ranks 157 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Mitsubishi Lancer by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mitsubishi Lancer is “Emissions levels exceed default limits”, recorded 993 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 993 | 1.31 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 965 | 1.28 |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 953 | 1.26 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 688 | 0.91 |
| Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit | 392 | 0.52 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 75,633 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Mitsubishi Lancer gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
9.7% of Mitsubishi Lancer MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,957 miles later (2,216 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,216 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mitsubishi Lancer 2001 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2002 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2003 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2004 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2005 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2006 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2007 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2008 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2009 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2010 · Mitsubishi Lancer 2011 · Mitsubishi Lancer in Norway · Mitsubishi Lancer in Finland · Mitsubishi Lancer in the Netherlands · Mitsubishi Lancer by postcode area · Mitsubishi Lancer body, chassis and structure failures · Mitsubishi Lancer brakes failures · Mitsubishi Lancer vehicle identification failures · Mitsubishi Lancer lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mitsubishi Lancer road wheels failures · Mitsubishi Lancer seat belts and airbags failures · Mitsubishi Lancer steering failures · Mitsubishi Lancer suspension failures · Mitsubishi Lancer tyres failures · Mitsubishi Lancer visibility failures