Used car guide

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Mitsubishi Outlander first registered in 2021 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 393 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 393 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

393MOTs of 2021 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
83%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,800typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for brake pads

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander petrol than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake pads2.5× usual
    Mitsubishi Outlander
    14.8% All 2021 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.1% of all 2021 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.

Common 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    18% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% 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
    6% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    2% 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.

Known faults on the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. 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
202016,045Tyres 25%
201926,105Tyres 26%
201832,159Tyres 25%
201726,574Tyres 25%
201633,107Tyres 26%
201538,318Brakes 30%
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 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score