2018 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0L Hybrid electric (clean) · AV02 SEC

The most recent DVSA examination on 29 January 2026 recorded a clean pass with no defects or advisories, suggesting that any immediate safety or compliance concerns had been rectified in the months prior to that test. Reviewing the broader MOT history, the pattern appears to be one of stable but attentive maintenance rather than outright deterioration, with intermittent minor and advisory items being recorded across successive annual tests. The 2025 pass followed a failure only two days earlier, which is a common sequence where a vehicle is presented with obvious defects, fails, the items are addressed, and the car is immediately retested. Across 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 there is a recurring theme of minor advisories relating to suspension joint dust covers, brake pad wear and rear electric motor mount condition, indicating that while the vehicle has consistently been kept roadworthy, certain wear-related items have been progressively flagged by testers and would be worthy of close scrutiny at the point of purchase. The recorded mileage of 90,005 miles over an eight-year working life equates to an annual average of approximately 11,251 miles, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and segment and suggests regular rather than sporadic use. There are no significant gaps or unusually large annual jumps in the mileage progression visible from the MOT record, which is a positive indicator that the vehicle has been in consistent service rather than left standing for prolonged periods or subjected to an abrupt high-mileage accumulation. Given the predominantly urban or mixed driving profile implied by this mileage level, one would expect moderate wear on braking components, normal ageing of suspension bushes, and steady degradation of underbody protection, all of which are largely consistent with the advisory items recorded over the test history. The most prominent recurring item across the MOT history is the offside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover, which has been flagged as severely deteriorated in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Although classified as minor, a perished dust cover permits the ingress of dirt and moisture into the ball joint, accelerating wear of the internal bearing surfaces and potentially leading to premature failure of the joint itself. A prospective buyer should physically inspect the offside front suspension area for any evidence of grease contamination on the surrounding components, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end when traversing speed bumps or uneven surfaces, and check for uneven or feathered wear on the front tyres, which can be indicative of excessive play in the joint. Given that the cover has been deteriorated across three consecutive tests, replacement of the ball joint or at minimum the dust cover should be considered an imminent maintenance item. Further attention should be directed to the braking system, as front and rear brake pad advisories were recorded in 2022 and 2024 respectively, suggesting that pad material is being consumed at a steady rate. On a test drive, the buyer should listen for any grinding or squealing from the brakes, feel for shudder through the steering wheel or pedal under firm application, and verify that the vehicle pulls up straight and true without pulling to one side, which could indicate a binding caliper or uneven pad wear. The rear electric motor mount was also flagged as damaged in 2024 and the front electric motor mount seal as perishing in 2022, both of which warrant visual inspection of the engine and motor bay mountings for cracks, splits or excessive movement. Beyond the recorded defects, a vehicle of this age and mileage should be assessed for age-related deterioration including tyre sidewall perishing and cracking, brake disc surface corrosion from standing or short journeys, 12 volt battery condition and state of charge, and the calendar-based replacement of brake fluid, coolant and transmission fluid, as these degrade with time irrespective of mileage.