Pass rate, every year
87.9% Above average
36,159 tests across 9 model years, 2013–2021.
+6.9 pts vs the national average
Mitsubishi Mirage MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics
Best year to buy
2019 92.4%
The strongest of the 9 years on record. See the 2019 page →
Worst year to buy
2013 83.9%
8.5 points below the 2019 peak. See the 2013 page →
The Mitsubishi Mirage MOT pass rate is 87.9%, +6.9 percentage points above the UK average. That is 36,159 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2013 and 2021. This page lists the most common Mitsubishi Mirage MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.
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Mitsubishi Mirage MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average
The Mitsubishi Mirage passed on its first attempt in 86.4%, and its overall record sits +6.9 percentage points above the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mitsubishi Mirage in the 2023–2025 data: 36,159 tests across 9 model years (2013–2021). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.
| Measure | This model |
|---|---|
| Tests analysed | 36,159 |
| Overall pass rate | 87.9% |
| Passed on first attempt | 86.4% |
| Average mileage at test | 37,355 mi |
| Model years covered | 2013–2021 (9 years) |
| Versus UK national average | +6.9 pts above |
Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.
Most Common Mitsubishi Mirage MOT Problems by Failure Category
Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mitsubishi Mirage, the Visibility section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.
| Inspection section | Share of failures |
|---|---|
| Visibility | 32% |
| Suspension | 29% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19% |
| Tyres | 13% |
| Brakes | 7% |
Shares are over the Mitsubishi Mirage's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.
Visibility
Around 32% of the recorded Mitsubishi Mirage failures fall in the Visibility section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively" (2.7%), "Wipers blade defective" (2.0%), "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (1.3%) among the Mitsubishi Mirage's visibility faults.
Suspension
Around 29% of the recorded Mitsubishi Mirage failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (4.9%), "Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (0.5%) among the Mitsubishi Mirage's suspension faults.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Around 19% of the recorded Mitsubishi Mirage failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (1.9%), "Position lamp not working" (1.3%), "Headlamp aim too low" (0.2%) among the Mitsubishi Mirage's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.
Top Recorded Mitsubishi Mirage DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions
The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mitsubishi Mirage, each with how many of the model's 36,159 tests it was noted on.
- "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 1,757 Mitsubishi Mirage tests, 4.9% of the model's MOT record.
- "Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively" (Rectified) — noted on about 970 Mitsubishi Mirage tests, 2.7% of the model's MOT record.
- "Wipers blade defective" (Minor) — noted on about 716 Mitsubishi Mirage tests, 2.0% of the model's MOT record.
- "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 672 Mitsubishi Mirage tests, 1.9% of the model's MOT record.
- "Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm" (Major) — noted on about 500 Mitsubishi Mirage tests, 1.4% of the model's MOT record.
- "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 460 Mitsubishi Mirage tests, 1.3% of the model's MOT record.
What Mirage fails on more than most
1 failure item is recorded at least 1.5 times the UK rate on this model.
| Failure item | This model | UK | × UK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 5.1% | 1.3% | 3.9× | £18–£45 |
Rates are a share of this model's own tests (36,159 for the top row), so a big seller cannot outrank a rare one. The UK figure is the same item's share of every test in our data. Items Mirage records at or below the UK rate are not listed — this is where it is unusual, not a full inventory. All failure items · parts and costs
Best and Worst Mitsubishi Mirage Model Years by Pass Rate
The strongest Mitsubishi Mirage model year on record is 2019 (92.4% across 3,510 tests), and the weakest is 2013 (83.9%). The gap between them is 8.5 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Mirage | 455 | 91.6% |
| 2020 Mirage | 1,844 | 91.5% |
| 2019 Mirage | 3,510 | 92.4% |
| 2018 Mirage | 3,320 | 89.8% |
| 2017 Mirage | 4,066 | 89.6% |
| 2016 Mirage | 4,541 | 88.9% |
| 2015 Mirage | 5,028 | 87.3% |
| 2014 Mirage | 5,882 | 86.6% |
| 2013 Mirage | 7,513 | 83.9% |
Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.
Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Mitsubishi Mirage Owners
These checks follow this Mitsubishi Mirage's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mitsubishi Mirage.
-
the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”
With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.
-
the wipers and washers — “wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively”
Run the wipers with the screen wet: they should clear it in one sweep without smearing or juddering. Top the washer bottle up and check both jets hit the screen.
-
the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”
Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.
Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mitsubishi Mirage. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Mitsubishi Mirage MOT & Reliability
What is the Mitsubishi Mirage MOT pass rate?
87.9% of the 36,159 recorded Mitsubishi Mirage MOT tests ended in a pass, +6.9 percentage points above the national average. 86.4% of those passed on the first attempt.
Which Mitsubishi Mirage model years pass the MOT most often?
2019 is the strongest Mitsubishi Mirage year on record at 92.4%, while 2013 is the weakest at 83.9%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.
What are the most common Mitsubishi Mirage MOT failures?
The most recorded Mitsubishi Mirage failures are "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" and "Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively" — together around 8% of tests, mostly in the Suspension section.