Mitsubishi Space Star: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The Mitsubishi Space Star fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 25.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,462 individual Mitsubishi Space Star tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 50.8% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | -25.9 points |
| Tests analysed | 1,462 |
| Average mileage at test | 87,533 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 2003 |
| Reliability rank | 2,005 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 50.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 49 in every 100 Mitsubishi Space Stars 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 Space Star tested had covered 87,533 miles and was built around 2003.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Mitsubishi Space Star bought as a 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 Space Star 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 what damaged Mitsubishi Space Stars actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi Space Star
- 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, 22.4% of tests (26.94x the national rate for this defect)
- Headlamp reflector or lens seriously defective or missing, 3.9% of tests (24.68x the national rate for this defect)
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.4% of tests (22.3x the national rate for this defect)
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 7.4% of tests (13.38x the national rate for this defect)
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.4% of tests (12.23x the national rate for this defect)
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 6.4% of tests (7.76x the national rate for this defect)
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 8.3% of tests (7.39x the national rate for this defect)
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 5.9% of tests (6.09x the national rate for this defect)
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 9.1% of tests (5.18x the national rate for this defect)
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.3% of tests (4.31x the national rate for this defect)
From 2,137 DVSA-tracked Mitsubishi Space Star tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.38% of these flagged Mitsubishi Space Star defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
Mitsubishi Space Star pass rate by model year
Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Mitsubishi Space Star year:
- 2002 Mitsubishi Space Star - 52.5% first-time pass, 217 tests
- 2003 Mitsubishi Space Star - 47.5% first-time pass, 322 tests
- 2004 Mitsubishi Space Star - 52.4% first-time pass, 483 tests
- 2005 Mitsubishi Space Star - 52.9% first-time pass, 293 tests
Mitsubishi Space Star by fuel type
Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:
- Petrol Mitsubishi Space Star - 52.3% first-time pass, 1,181 tests
- Diesel Mitsubishi Space Star - 48.2% first-time pass, 255 tests
Other Mitsubishi models
- Mitsubishi L200 - 75.2%
- Mitsubishi Outlander - 80.3%
- Mitsubishi Asx - 78.7%
- Mitsubishi Shogun - 73.3%
- Mitsubishi Colt - 64.2%
- Mitsubishi Mirage - 85.7%
- Mitsubishi Lancer - 71.5%
- Mitsubishi Eclipse - 88.7%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Chrysler-Jeep Patriot - 54.4%
- Nissan Primastar - 54%
- Mazda Mpv - 53.3%
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
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