Mitsubishi Carisma
From 1,402 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 163 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.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 163 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 85 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 79 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 66 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 49 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 47 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 46 |
| 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 | 45 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 38 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 37 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 51% of Carisma failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 14% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £148.
Mitsubishi Carisma on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 195 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 195. At this rate, roughly 8 years until none remain. Now at 3.9% of its peak (40,726 in 2004 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 498 | 1,070 | +0 | -29 | -29 |
| 2025 Q2 | 538 | 1,059 | +0 | -52 | -52 |
| 2025 Q1 | 576 | 1,073 | +0 | -50 | -50 |
| 2024 Q4 | 611 | 1,088 | +0 | -64 | -64 |
| 2024 Q3 | 651 | 1,112 | +0 | -87 | -87 |
| 2024 Q2 | 705 | 1,145 | +0 | -42 | -42 |
| 2024 Q1 | 752 | 1,140 | +0 | -46 | -46 |
| 2023 Q4 | 797 | 1,141 | +0 | -68 | -68 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carisma Elegance Di-D | Diesel | 117 | 57% |
| Carisma Elegance | Petrol | 87 | 43% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 60.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2003 | 62.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 63% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 1997 | 68.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Carismas tested had between 76,224 and 137,055 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 102,632 median miles, the Carisma has 0.036 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 Carisma MOT pass rate?
The Mitsubishi Carisma has a 62.8% MOT pass rate based on 1,402 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi Carisma?
The most common MOT failure on the Mitsubishi Carisma is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 163 failures. Other common issues include brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded.
How many Mitsubishi Carismas are on UK roads?
There are 498 Mitsubishi Carismas currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,070 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mitsubishi Carisma at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mitsubishi Carisma is 102,632 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,224 and 137,055 miles.
Buying a used Carisma?
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 62.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £148 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.