2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel than on all cars registered in 2015.

• Rigid brake pipes7.3× usual
  Mitsubishi ASX

  14.6% All 2015 cars

  2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.3% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

• Brake pads1.7× usual
  Mitsubishi ASX

  18.2% All 2015 cars

  10.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 2.2% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

• Anti-roll bar bushes and joints10× usual
  Mitsubishi ASX

  3% All 2015 cars

  0.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

  At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

• Sub-frame3.2× usual
  Mitsubishi ASX

  2.9% All 2015 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

Common 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Brakes
  38% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Tyres
  28% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Suspension
  21% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  10% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  6% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Seats and seatbelts
  3% of testsRough price £80–£250

  At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Tailgate struts, wipers, door locks and ECU relay recalls

  Built 2010 to 2016

  Recalls also covered corroding tailgate struts (built 2010 to 2014), seizing wiper mechanisms (built 2013 to 2016), door locks in hot weather (2015 to 2016) and an overheating ECU relay (Dec 2014 to Apr 2016).

  At the viewing: Ask for proof the recalls were done, and check the tailgate stays up.

  Source: What Car?: used Mitsubishi ASX (2010 on) reliability

• Glass roof rattles

  Cars with a glass roof

  Tabs around the glass roof can come unstuck in hot weather and rattle.

  At the viewing: Listen around the roof on a rough road.

  Source: What Car?: used Mitsubishi ASX (2010 on) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 7.3× as often on the 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 10× as often on the 2015 Mitsubishi ASX diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?