Mitsubishi Colt: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mitsubishi Colt fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 12.5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 22,673 individual Mitsubishi Colt tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 64.2% first-time pass rate means roughly 36 in every 100 Mitsubishi Colts presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Mitsubishi Colt tested had covered 82,952 miles and was built around 2008.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mitsubishi Colt sits 12.5 points below the national average, ranked 1,880 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Mitsubishi Colt rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Mitsubishi Colts at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi Colt

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests (4.3x the national rate for this defect)
2. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 6.3% of tests (4.14x the national rate for this defect)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.8% of tests (4.04x the national rate for this defect)
4. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.8% of tests (3.7x the national rate for this defect)
5. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3.2% of tests (3.55x the national rate for this defect)
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 7.2% of tests (3.08x the national rate for this defect)
7. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 4% of tests (3.03x the national rate for this defect)
8. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 5.4% of tests (2.85x the national rate for this defect)
9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.9% of tests (2.63x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.1% of tests (2.25x the national rate for this defect)

From 22,659 DVSA-tracked Mitsubishi Colt tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.51% of these flagged Mitsubishi Colt defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Mitsubishi Colt

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Mitsubishi Colt before it actually fails on it.

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 7.4% of tests (4.86x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 16.3% of tests (3.44x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.8% of tests (3.4x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 4.3% of tests (3.17x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.8% of tests (3.03x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.9% of tests (2.07x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.9% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory)
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 23.5% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this advisory)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 7% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.3% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this advisory)

From 22,659 DVSA-tracked Mitsubishi Colt tests, 2024.

Mitsubishi Colt pass rate by model year

From its 2004 to its 2013 model year, the Mitsubishi Colt's first-time pass rate has risen 21 points, from 58.1% to 79.1%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Mitsubishi Colt year:

• 2004 Mitsubishi Colt - 58.1% first-time pass, 375 tests
• 2005 Mitsubishi Colt - 61.5% first-time pass, 1,854 tests
• 2006 Mitsubishi Colt - 62.3% first-time pass, 2,581 tests
• 2007 Mitsubishi Colt - 61.6% first-time pass, 3,371 tests
• 2008 Mitsubishi Colt - 60.6% first-time pass, 4,083 tests
• 2009 Mitsubishi Colt - 64.2% first-time pass, 3,756 tests
• 2010 Mitsubishi Colt - 67.6% first-time pass, 2,523 tests
• 2011 Mitsubishi Colt - 72.3% first-time pass, 1,616 tests
• 2012 Mitsubishi Colt - 74.1% first-time pass, 1,461 tests
• 2013 Mitsubishi Colt - 79.1% first-time pass, 512 tests

Mitsubishi Colt by fuel type

The Mitsubishi Colt's two most-tested fuel types split by 7.6 points: petrol passes first time 65.1% of the time (20,911 tests) against 57.5% for diesel (1,629 tests).

• Petrol Mitsubishi Colt - 65.1% first-time pass, 20,911 tests
• Diesel Mitsubishi Colt - 57.5% first-time pass, 1,629 tests

Other Mitsubishi models

• Mitsubishi L200 - 75.2%
• Mitsubishi Outlander - 80.3%
• Mitsubishi Asx - 78.7%
• Mitsubishi Shogun - 73.3%
• Mitsubishi Mirage - 85.7%
• Mitsubishi Lancer - 71.5%
• Mitsubishi Eclipse - 88.7%
• Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab - 62.3%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Volvo C70 - 64.4%
• Peugeot Bipper - 64.3%
• Daihatsu Terios - 64.3%
• Nissan Almera - 64.1%
• Mitsubishi Delica - 64%
• Toyota Previa - 63.8%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate