Used car guide

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Mitsubishi Outlander first registered in 2015 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 6,111 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,111MOTs of 2015 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
69%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 74%)
9,200typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for brake pads

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

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

  • Brake pads1.9× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    20% All 2015 cars
    10.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes4.6× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    9.1% All 2015 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints21× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    6.3% All 2015 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, 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.

  • Track rod ends2.4× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    6.9% All 2015 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.4% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Coil springs1.7× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    7.2% All 2015 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 2.6% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.9% here, against 5.9% of all 2015 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.3% here, against 4.6% of all 2015 cars.

Common 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

  • 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    28% 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
    16% 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
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    5% 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.

Known faults on the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander 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.

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

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

  1. Has the clutch or flywheel been replaced?
  2. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 4.6× as often on the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 21× as often on the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi Outlander?

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 Outlander compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
20215,208Tyres 25%
202016,045Tyres 25%
201926,105Tyres 26%
201832,159Tyres 25%
201726,574Tyres 25%
201633,107Tyres 26%
201421,288Brakes 34%
20136,111Suspension 46%
20123,350Suspension 53%
20113,884Suspension 57%
20104,368Suspension 58%
20093,772Suspension 63%
20084,656Suspension 64%
20073,267Suspension 65%
2006239Suspension 69%
2005432Suspension 60%
2004534Suspension 63%
2003–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 Outlander cars first registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score