Mitsubishi 3000
From 781 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 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 and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, caused 43 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 43 |
| 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 | 37 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 36 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 33 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 26 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 20 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 20 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 19 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 19 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 19 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 27.9% of 3000 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 23.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £161.
Mitsubishi 3000 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 21 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 21. At this rate, roughly 32.9 years until none remain. Now at 64.4% of its peak (817 in 2000 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 120 | 406 | +0 | -1 | -1 |
| 2025 Q2 | 120 | 407 | +0 | -0 | +3 |
| 2025 Q1 | 107 | 417 | +0 | -3 | -3 |
| 2024 Q4 | 109 | 418 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
| 2024 Q3 | 122 | 422 | +0 | -0 | +3 |
| 2024 Q2 | 117 | 424 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2024 Q1 | 110 | 437 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2023 Q4 | 110 | 436 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 80% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, emissions test unable to be completed |
| 1998 | 58.7% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all 3000s tested had between 76,400 and 115,944 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 87,854 median miles, the 3000 has 0.032 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mitsubishi models
| Mitsubishi L200 | 76.9% |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 80.9% |
| Mitsubishi Shogun | 76.8% |
| Mitsubishi Asx | 79.9% |
| Mitsubishi Colt | 64.6% |
Common questions
What is the Mitsubishi 3000 MOT pass rate?
The Mitsubishi 3000 has a 72.3% MOT pass rate based on 781 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi 3000?
The most common MOT failure on the Mitsubishi 3000 is brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, which caused 43 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many Mitsubishi 3000s are on UK roads?
There are 120 Mitsubishi 3000s currently licensed on UK roads, with 406 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mitsubishi 3000 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mitsubishi 3000 is 87,854 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,400 and 115,944 miles.
Buying a used 3000?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 72.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £161 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 27.9% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.