2018 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4L Hybrid electric (clean) · WR68 PFX

The defining story of this Mitsubishi Outlander across seven recorded MOT tests is a repeated electrical anomaly at the rear fog lamp, accompanied by a recent tyre wear advisory on the most recent pass dated 2026-04-08. Both 2024 and 2025 saw the offside rear fog lamp recorded as not working, the second instance resulting in a Major failure on 2024-03-08 and the first producing another Major failure on 2025-03-21. The 2026 pass is otherwise clean aside from the offside rear tyre advisory, but the recurrence of the same lighting defect twice within roughly twelve months is a meaningful pattern. It suggests a wiring, switch, or connector issue rather than a simple bulb replacement, particularly as bulb-only faults tend to be intermittent rather than repeating across consecutive tests. A prospective buyer should treat this as a live electrical concern requiring diagnosis rather than a one-off nuisance. With 53,556 miles recorded over an eight-year span, the annual accumulation works out at roughly 6,694 miles per year, which sits broadly in line with typical usage of a family SUV of this age. There are no extended gaps in the testing record beyond the usual seasonal spread, and the mileage progression between tests appears steady rather than erratic, suggesting consistent rather than intermittent use. This level of mileage is moderate enough that major drivetrain wear is unlikely, but consumable items such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension bushes will have seen realistic working life. The advisory on the 2025 failure noting rear brake pads wearing thin is consistent with this mileage profile and should be expected to recur. The 2025 failure also recorded a nail in the nearside rear tyre and an insecure central front undertray, both of which are relatively minor but worth noting. On inspection, the buyer should examine the undertray fixings carefully, as a repeatedly insecure undertray can indicate missing clips or perished mounting points, and may also be masking access to components above it. The rear brake pad advisory from the same test should be followed up with a direct measurement of remaining pad material and a check of rear disc condition, looking for lipping, scoring, or corrosion pitting especially given that the vehicle has stood through winter periods. Any binding caliper symptom would present as uneven pad wear or a pulling sensation under braking. For the lighting defect, the buyer should confirm the rear fog lamp operation personally during a pre-purchase inspection and ask whether the bulb, switch, and connector have been independently inspected rather than simply replaced. On a test drive, listen for any suspension knocks over uneven road surfaces, particularly from the rear, and pay attention to steering behaviour at speed for any drift that could indicate alignment issues linked to the worn rear tyre edge noted in the latest advisory. The offside rear tyre should be inspected for uneven shoulder wear, which on a normally aspirated family SUV often points to alignment, camber, or occasionally worn rear suspension bushes. Finally, check that the tyre replacement has been carried out since the advisory, as a tyre worn close to the legal limit on the edge is a borderline condition that warrants close scrutiny before purchase.