1997 Mitsubishi Lancer — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

82.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,014

Total Tests (All Years)

103,146 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer as it ages.

12 yrs54.9%

→ ↑3.2%

13 yrs58.1%

→ ↑0.8%

14 yrs58.9%

→ ↑3.3%

15 yrs62.2%

→ ↑3.0%

16 yrs65.2%

→ ↓0.4%

17 yrs64.8%

→ ↑9.5%

18 yrs74.3%

→ ↓2.2%

19 yrs72.1%

→ ↑7.9%

20 yrs80.0%

→ ↓9.5%

21 yrs70.5%

→ ↑3.0%

22 yrs73.5%

→ ↑2.3%

23 yrs75.8%

→ ↑6.3%

27 yrs82.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	54.9%	142
13 yrs	58.1%	129
14 yrs	58.9%	129
15 yrs	62.2%	98
16 yrs	65.2%	92
17 yrs	64.8%	88
18 yrs	74.3%	70
19 yrs	72.1%	61
20 yrs	80.0%	55
21 yrs	70.5%	44
22 yrs	73.5%	34
23 yrs	75.8%	33
27 yrs	82.1%	39

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	82.1%	39
2020 (23 yrs)	75.8%	33
2019 (22 yrs)	73.5%	34
2018 (21 yrs)	70.5%	44
2017 (20 yrs)	80%	55
2016 (19 yrs)	72.1%	61
2015 (18 yrs)	74.3%	70
2014 (17 yrs)	64.8%	88
2013 (16 yrs)	65.2%	92
2012 (15 yrs)	62.2%	98
2011 (14 yrs)	58.9%	129
2010 (13 yrs)	58.1%	129
2009 (12 yrs)	54.9%	142

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 142Avg Mileage 92,398Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.2%

2010High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 129Avg Mileage 93,863Top Failure Tyres — 22.5%

2011High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 129Avg Mileage 99,008Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.5%

2012High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 98Avg Mileage 102,090Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%

2013

65.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 92Avg Mileage 107,627Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 40.2%

2014High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 88Avg Mileage 105,269Top Failure Brakes — 43.2%

2015

74.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 70Avg Mileage 124,383Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 38.6%

2016

72.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 61Avg Mileage 115,291Top Failure Suspension — 34.4%

2017

80.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 55Avg Mileage 123,999Top Failure Suspension — 30.9%

2018

70.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 44Avg Mileage 115,548Top Failure Brakes — 29.5%

2019

73.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 34Avg Mileage 124,670Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 47.1%

2020

75.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 33Avg Mileage 121,395Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 33.3%

2024

82.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 39Avg Mileage 103,146Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.6%

MOT results for 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	54.9%	142	92,398	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.2%
2010	13	58.1%	129	93,863	Tyres — 22.5%
2011	14	58.9%	129	99,008	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.5%
2012	15	62.2%	98	102,090	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%
2013	16	65.2%	92	107,627	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 40.2%
2014	17	64.8%	88	105,269	Brakes — 43.2%
2015	18	74.3%	70	124,383	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 38.6%
2016	19	72.1%	61	115,291	Suspension — 34.4%
2017	20	80.0%	55	123,999	Suspension — 30.9%
2018	21	70.5%	44	115,548	Brakes — 29.5%
2019	22	73.5%	34	124,670	Noise, emissions and leaks — 47.1%
2020	23	75.8%	33	121,395	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 33.3%
2024	27	82.1%	39	103,146	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer, with age trends.

Noise, emissions and leaks

29.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

26.9%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

22.9%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	15.5% (12 yrs)	2.6% (27 yrs)	-12.9%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	15.5% (12 yrs)	2.6% (27 yrs)	-12.9%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mitsubishi Lancer page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mitsubishi Lancer cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,014 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.