Mitsubishi Delica
From 2,617 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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 pin, bush or joint excessively worn and steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, 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, caused 271 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 271 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 215 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 109 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 108 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 99 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 95 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 92 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 89 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 86 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 74 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 37.6% of Delica failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 24.8% 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 £172.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 74.4% while Diesel versions pass at 63.6%, a 11 percentage point gap.
Mitsubishi Delica on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 39 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 5 newly registered, a net loss of 34. At this rate, roughly 12.6 years until none remain. Now at 46.9% of its peak (755 in 2007 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 110 | 244 | +3 | -0 | +8 |
| 2025 Q2 | 117 | 229 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2025 Q1 | 123 | 227 | +1 | -12 | -11 |
| 2024 Q4 | 122 | 239 | +1 | -23 | -22 |
| 2024 Q3 | 128 | 255 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
| 2024 Q2 | 136 | 255 | +1 | -0 | +1 |
| 2024 Q1 | 137 | 253 | +0 | -0 | +2 |
| 2023 Q4 | 134 | 254 | +1 | -5 | -4 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 67.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2016 | 72% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2010 | 82.9% | 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, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2008 | 73.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
5 earlier years
| 2007 | 75.8% | 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 spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2006 | 69.2% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 2005 | 68.2% | 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 pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 70.9% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 2003 | 58.3% | 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, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is so weakened that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected |
Typical mileage
Half of all Delicas tested had between 73,768 and 151,908 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 107,325 median miles, the Delica has 0.028 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 Delica MOT pass rate?
The Mitsubishi Delica has a 69.6% MOT pass rate based on 2,617 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi Delica?
The most common MOT failure on the Mitsubishi Delica is 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, which caused 271 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Mitsubishi Delicas are on UK roads?
There are 110 Mitsubishi Delicas currently licensed on UK roads, with 244 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mitsubishi Delica at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mitsubishi Delica is 107,325 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 73,768 and 151,908 miles.
Buying a used Delica?
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 69.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £172 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 37.6% 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.