Used car guide

2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Mitsubishi ASX first registered in 2018 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 4,069 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,069MOTs of 2018 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
86%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 83%)
6,600typical miles a year
5.2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Rigid brake pipes5.2× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    2.6% All 2018 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2018 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints5.3× usual
    Mitsubishi ASX
    2.1% All 2018 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Common 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Brakes
    24% 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.

  • Suspension
    8% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol

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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol

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 5.2× as often on the 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 5.3× as often on the 2018 Mitsubishi ASX petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi ASX?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mitsubishi ASX compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20211,050Tyres 17%
20204,474Tyres 17%
20194,747Tyres 24%
201711,827Brakes 30%
20169,463Brakes 32%
201513,479Brakes 37%
201411,072Brakes 40%
20137,233Brakes 41%
20126,279Suspension 42%
20116,245Suspension 48%
20104,780Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mitsubishi ASX cars first registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score