Used car guide

1999 Mitsubishi Challenger diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Mitsubishi Challenger first registered in 1999 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 166 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 166 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

166MOTs of 1999 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
65%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 63%)
5,600typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for chassis rust or damage

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger diesel than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Chassis rust or damage3.3× usual
    Mitsubishi Challenger
    18.7% All 1999 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 2% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    Mitsubishi Challenger
    28.9% All 1999 cars
    14.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.3% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Common 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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.

  • Brakes
    37% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    33% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    30% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    22% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger 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 chassis rust or damage? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 1999 Mitsubishi Challenger diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi Challenger?

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Other years

Every year of the Mitsubishi Challenger compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2000–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests

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 Challenger cars first registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score