Mitsubishi Colt
From 32,064 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Colts fare better: 2013 models pass at 73.2% vs 60% for 2004.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 1,558 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.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,558 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,313 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,156 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,100 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,078 |
| 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 | 966 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 927 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 853 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 784 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 782 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21.7% of Colt failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 25.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £107.
Mitsubishi Colt on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 2,851 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 6 newly registered, a net loss of 2,845. At this rate, roughly 7.7 years until none remain. Now at 40% of its peak (54,694 in 2011 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 18,039 | 3,834 | +2 | -715 | -713 |
| 2025 Q2 | 18,815 | 3,771 | +0 | -686 | -686 |
| 2025 Q1 | 19,543 | 3,729 | +2 | -689 | -687 |
| 2024 Q4 | 20,253 | 3,706 | +2 | -761 | -759 |
| 2024 Q3 | 21,041 | 3,677 | +1 | -741 | -740 |
| 2024 Q2 | 21,839 | 3,619 | +0 | -720 | -720 |
| 2024 Q1 | 22,571 | 3,607 | +0 | -647 | -647 |
| 2023 Q4 | 23,284 | 3,541 | +3 | -616 | -613 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colt Czi | Petrol | 3,889 | 24% |
| Colt Cz2 | Petrol | 3,367 | 20% |
| Colt Cz2 Amt | Petrol | 1,790 | 11% |
| Colt Clear Tec Cz2 | Petrol | 1,771 | 11% |
| Colt Cz1 | Petrol | 653 | 4% |
| Colt Cz2 Di-D Amt | Diesel | 647 | 4% |
| Colt Czc2 | Petrol | 568 | 3% |
| Colt Cz2 Auto | Petrol | 556 | 3% |
| Colt Equippe | Petrol | 441 | 3% |
| Colt Attivo | Petrol | 315 | 2% |
| Colt Black Hawk | Petrol | 306 | 2% |
| Colt Ralliart | Petrol | 295 | 2% |
| Colt Cz2 Di-D | Diesel | 293 | 2% |
| Colt Black | Gas | 272 | 2% |
| Colt Czc3 | Petrol | 243 | 1% |
| Colt Red | Petrol | 238 | 1% |
| Colt Blue | Petrol | 234 | 1% |
| Colt Mirage | Petrol | 219 | 1% |
| Colt Cz3 | Petrol | 182 | 1% |
| Colt Juro | Petrol | 164 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 73.2% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 70.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 71.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2010 | 66% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
10 earlier years
| 2009 | 65.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2008 | 63.1% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2007 | 62.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 2006 | 62.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2005 | 62.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 60% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2002 | 70.5% | 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, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 1999 | 63.8% | 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, a suspension component fractured or likely to fail |
| 1998 | 56.9% | 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, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1997 | 69.1% | 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, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all Colts tested had between 76,477 and 102,019 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 89,903 median miles, the Colt has 0.039 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 Lancer | 74.3% |
Common questions
What is the Mitsubishi Colt MOT pass rate?
The Mitsubishi Colt has a 64.6% MOT pass rate based on 32,064 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi Colt?
The most common MOT failure on the Mitsubishi Colt is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 1,558 failures. Other common issues include a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Mitsubishi Colts are on UK roads?
There are 18,039 Mitsubishi Colts currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,834 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mitsubishi Colt at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mitsubishi Colt is 89,903 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 76,477 and 102,019 miles.
Buying a used Colt?
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 64.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £107 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.