Mitsubishi Canter MOT Failures

An analysis of 6,859 real DVSA MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Canter — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: FB5 (1996–2010), FB6 (2011–2017).

Where the Mitsubishi Canter fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Mitsubishi Canter is track rod ends worn — this model is 50 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 6,859 MOT tests, 7.03% of all Mitsubishi Canter tests recorded this as a failure.

Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.

Other notable weak points include axle or kingpin wear (2070x the fleet average), transmission shaft bearing worn (28x the fleet average), abs fault (15x the fleet average), and anti-roll bar links worn (12x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Mitsubishi Canter's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 4 categories: Steering, Suspension, Bodywork, Seatbelts & Airbags. If you're inspecting a Mitsubishi Canter before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Mitsubishi Canter's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

For the Mitsubishi Canter specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (11x the average) and vehicle structure corroded to the extent that t... (10x). wheel bearings worn (8.0x) and significant brake effort recorded with no brake... (5.5x) also appear frequently.

Over 100,000 miles

High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.

For the Mitsubishi Canter specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are axle or kingpin wear (2070x the average) and track rod ends worn (50x). coil springs broken (29x) and transmission shaft bearing worn (28x) also appear frequently.

The shift from anti-roll bar links worn at lower mileages to axle or kingpin wear at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Mitsubishi Canter specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Body structure corrosion (FB5/FB6) Dangerous

Commercial vehicles are often used in harsh conditions and may not receive the same care as passenger cars regarding washing and corrosion protection. Affects FB5, FB6.

Suspension component wear (FB5/FB6) Major

Commercial vehicle suspension components experience accelerated wear due to heavy loading and frequent start-stop cycles. Affects FB5, FB6; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£800.

Wheel bearing wear (FB5/FB6) Major

Wheel bearings on commercial vehicles experience higher loads and more frequent loading cycles than passenger cars. Affects FB5, FB6; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£300.

Brake binding issues (FB5/FB6) Major

Commercial vehicle brakes work harder due to frequent heavy loading and stop-start cycles. Affects FB5, FB6; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£500.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Mitsubishi Canter common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Canter

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Mitsubishi Canter:

Steering — check for track rod ends worn. Suspension — check for axle or kingpin wear, abs fault, anti-roll bar links worn, coil springs broken. Bodywork — check for transmission shaft bearing worn, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that t....

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about body structure corrosion and suspension component wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.