Mitsubishi I MOT Failures

An analysis of 4,181 real DVSA MOT tests on the Mitsubishi I — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: HA1W (2006–2013).

Where the Mitsubishi I fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Mitsubishi I 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 major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 4,181 MOT tests, 19.91% of all Mitsubishi I 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 headlight fault (21x the fleet average), suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (21x the fleet average), abs fault (21x the fleet average), and transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot... (16x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Mitsubishi I'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 5 categories: Steering, Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Bodywork, Brakes. If you're inspecting a Mitsubishi I 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 I'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 I specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are track rod ends worn (50x the average) and headlight fault (21x). suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (21x) and abs fault (21x) 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 I specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are track rod ends worn (19x the average) and suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (14x). abs fault (12x) and headlight fault (8.6x) also appear frequently.

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 I specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Subframe mounting area structural weakness Dangerous

MOT data shows this model fails at 11.5x the national average for load-bearing structure problems within 30cm of subframe mounting points at 60-80k miles. Affects HA1W; typical independent garage repair cost is £500–£1,500.

Steering rack gaiter deterioration

MOT data shows this model fails at up to 50.2x the national average for steering rack gaiter and ball joint dust cover damage across multiple mileage bands. Affects HA1W; typical independent garage repair cost is £60–£120.

CV joint boot deterioration

MOT data shows this model fails at 15.9x the national average for CV joint boot deterioration at 40-60k miles with a worsening trend. Affects HA1W; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£150.

Suspension joint dust cover deterioration

MOT data shows this model fails at 21.3x the national average for suspension joint dust cover deterioration at 40-60k miles with a worsening trend. Affects HA1W; typical independent garage repair cost is £60–£120.

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

What to check before buying a Mitsubishi I

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

Steering — check for track rod ends worn. Lights & Electrics — check for headlight fault. Suspension — check for suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, abs fault, suspension pin, bush or joint worn.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting area structural weakness and steering rack gaiter deterioration. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £500. 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.