Mitsubishi Fuso Canter MOT Failures
An analysis of 24,560 real DVSA MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter is lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... — this model is 164 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it an extreme outlier for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 24,560 MOT tests, 2.66% of all Mitsubishi Fuso Canter tests recorded this as a failure.
Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.
Other notable weak points include coil springs broken (227x the fleet average), emissions failure (18x the fleet average), free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (131x the fleet average), and service brake efficiency below minimum requirement (38x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Mitsubishi Fuso 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 6 categories: Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Exhaust & Emissions, Steering, Brakes and others. If you're inspecting a Mitsubishi Fuso 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 Fuso 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.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fixings missing or insecure (598x the average) and coil springs broken (227x). lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... (107x) and service brake efficiency below minimum requirement (38x) also appear frequently.
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 Fuso Canter specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fixings missing or insecure (430x the average) and lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... (138x). free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (131x) and coil springs broken (65x) 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 Fuso Canter specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are axle or kingpin wear (389x the average) and free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (107x). lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... (68x) and light unit fault (64x) also appear frequently.
The shift from fixings missing or insecure 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.
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter:
Lights & Electrics — check for lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m.... Suspension — check for coil springs broken, suspension pin, bush or joint worn, axle or kingpin wear. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure. Steering — check for free play in the steering, measured at the rim ....
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Mitsubishi Fuso Canter?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Mitsubishi Fuso Canter MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter?
Based on 24,560 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m... — at 164x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include coil springs broken and emissions failure.
Is the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter reliable based on MOT data?
The Mitsubishi Fuso Canter has 15 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a m.... Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter most commonly fails on axle or kingpin wear and free play in the steering, measured at the rim .... Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are fixings missing or insecure and coil springs broken.
How do I check a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
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.