2015 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0L Hybrid electric · RAG 144V

The Mitsubishi Outlander presents a mixed mechanical picture that warrants careful scrutiny. The most recent MOT, conducted on 15 November 2025 at 67,702 miles, passed but carried strong advisories that signal declining attention to basic maintenance. The tester flagged serious deep cracking and perishing on the nearside front tyre, low wear on the offside rear tyre, rust on front and rear suspension components, and a handbrake lever with excessive reserve travel that only just met the minimum performance threshold. These are not minor cosmetic issues. The handbrake performance being borderline, combined with visible suspension corrosion, suggests the vehicle may have spent extended periods standing or exposed to harsh conditions without adequate underbody protection. The maintenance trend is not improving. It is stable at best, with rust and brake performance concerns appearing more prominently in the latest test than in previous years. The mileage pattern tells a story of recent surge after a period of dormancy. Between the February 2022 test at 44,686 miles and the December 2022 test at 53,798 miles, the vehicle covered 9,112 miles in under eleven months. That is a sharp acceleration compared to the earlier and later averages. From December 2022 at 53,798 miles through December 2023 at 57,328 miles, the vehicle added only 3,530 miles over a full year. Then from December 2023 at 57,328 miles to December 2024 at 61,649 miles, it added 4,321 miles. The most recent jump from December 2024 at 61,649 miles to November 2025 at 67,702 miles represents 6,053 miles in under eleven months, bringing the annualised average back toward the typical 6,155 miles per year benchmark. The uneven accumulation suggests periods of low use interspersed with heavier driving, which can accelerate certain types of wear, particularly on brakes, tyres, and rubber components that deteriorate from age and standing as much as from use. The recurring tyre faults deserve emphasis. The offside rear tyre has been flagged for cracking, perishing, or sidewall damage in three of the last four tests, including a specific note that it had been driven while flat in December 2023. Repeated sidewall damage on the same corner suggests either a persistent slow puncture from a failing wheel rim, a damaged tyre bead seating, or habitual underinflation by the previous owner. A buyer should inspect that wheel for corrosion or rim damage and verify the valve stem condition. The rear brake pads were noted as wearing thin from the inner side in December 2024, which is a classic indicator of a sticking caliper or seized guide pins causing uneven pad deposition. Given the handbrake performance advisory in November 2025, the rear braking system needs a thorough physical inspection, including caliper slide mechanism freedom, handbrake cable adjustment, and disc condition for lipping or heat scoring. The November 2025 advisory regarding rusted front and rear suspension components is the most structurally significant finding. Surface rust on suspension arms and mounting points is common on vehicles of this age, but the tester deemed it notable enough to record, which implies corrosion beyond light surface oxidation. A buyer should have the vehicle raised on a lift to inspect lower suspension arms, anti-roll bar linkages, subframe mounting points, and spring seats for section loss or perforation. Coil spring integrity should also be checked, as corrosion at spring contact points can initiate fatigue cracking. The combination of suspension corrosion, borderline handbrake performance, and recurring tyre and brake wear points to a vehicle that has not received consistent preventative maintenance. It is roadworthy on paper, but the pattern of advisories suggests deferred attention that a diligent buyer should verify in person before committing.