Mitsubishi Colt: what fails at MOT
26,000 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Colt in 2024, counted. 46.2% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
46.2% of Mitsubishi Colt tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 40%, so the Colt does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (18.1% of tests), suspension (11.4% of tests) and body and structure (7.1% of tests). It fails on lights and electrics, body and structure and wipers, washers and windscreen more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 614 | 31.1% | 30.6% | 61,000 42,900 to 87,000 |
| 2012 | 1,568 | 37.4% | 33.4% | 65,900 46,800 to 88,200 |
| 2011 | 1,697 | 36.7% | 36.1% | 72,000 51,200 to 92,700 |
| 2010 | 2,712 | 43.7% | 38.6% | 76,900 57,100 to 98,400 |
| 2009 | 4,244 | 45.6% | 39.8% | 79,400 57,600 to 105,100 |
| 2008 | 5,152 | 49.3% | 41.5% | 82,000 61,700 to 105,300 |
| 2007 | 3,998 | 49.3% | 41.5% | 87,400 66,400 to 112,100 |
| 2006 | 3,130 | 48.8% | 42.4% | 88,700 68,400 to 114,700 |
| 2005 | 2,252 | 49.4% | 42.2% | 94,900 72,600 to 118,600 |
| 2004 | 486 | 54.9% | 42.3% | 94,700 71,100 to 115,100 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Mitsubishi Colt tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Colt | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 18.1% | 13.0% | More than most |
| Suspension | 11.4% | 10.9% | |
| Body and structure | 7.1% | 4.7% | More than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 6.4% | 4.4% | More than most |
| Brakes | 5.9% | 7.5% | |
| Tyres | 5.6% | 4.9% | |
| Steering | 4.3% | 2.3% | More than most |
| Exhaust and emissions | 4.1% | 3.9% |
The parts that fail most
- Side light5.7%
- Headlamp aim5.5%
- Driveshaft joint4.6%
- Wipers4.3%
- Track rod end4.0%
- Tyre4.0%
- Headlamp3.7%
- Number plate light3.6%
- Brake light3.2%
- Coil spring2.5%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Side light: not working5.5%
- Driveshaft joint: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.5%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively4.2%
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.0%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.2%
- Brake light: not working2.9%
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.7%
- Coil spring: fractured or broken2.5%
- Ball joint dust cover: no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge12.4%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.6%
- Coil spring: corroded8.2%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.9%
- Brake pads: wearing thin4.7%
- Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases4.1%
- Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement3.5%
- Engine oil: leak, but not excessive3.4%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “Is there any corrosion underneath or around the sills and arches?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “Is there any play, knocking or stiffness in the steering?”
Check a Mitsubishi Colt's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.