Mitsubishi Space Star
From 2,259 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Space Stars fare better: 2005 models pass at 59.5% vs 56.4% for 2004.
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 the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. 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 391 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 | 391 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 212 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 163 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 143 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 119 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 109 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 101 |
| headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 86 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 82 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 81 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.4% of Space Star failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 28.4% 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 £187.
Mitsubishi Space Star on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 377 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 376. At this rate, roughly 4.8 years until none remain. Now at 10.8% of its peak (16,705 in 2007 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 917 | 888 | +1 | -63 | -62 |
| 2025 Q2 | 992 | 875 | +0 | -73 | -73 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,056 | 884 | +0 | -109 | -109 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,157 | 892 | +0 | -132 | -132 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,249 | 932 | +0 | -111 | -111 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,348 | 944 | +0 | -80 | -80 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,433 | 939 | +1 | -101 | -100 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,535 | 937 | +1 | -92 | -91 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Star Equippe Auto | Petrol | 260 | 31% |
| Space Star Equippe | Diesel | 179 | 22% |
| Space Star Mirage | Petrol | 179 | 22% |
| Space Star Classic | Petrol | 78 | 9% |
| Space Star Di-D Equippe | Diesel | 70 | 8% |
| Space Star S Di-D | Diesel | 65 | 8% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 59.5% | 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 56.4% | 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 |
| 2003 | 54.2% | 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 |
| 2002 | 59.7% | 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 |
1 earlier years
| 2001 | 64.2% | 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Space Stars tested had between 73,508 and 117,064 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 84,881 median miles, the Space Star has 0.05 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 Space Star MOT pass rate?
The Mitsubishi Space Star has a 57.8% MOT pass rate based on 2,259 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi Space Star?
The most common MOT failure on the Mitsubishi Space Star 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 391 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Mitsubishi Space Stars are on UK roads?
There are 917 Mitsubishi Space Stars currently licensed on UK roads, with 888 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mitsubishi Space Star at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mitsubishi Space Star is 84,881 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 73,508 and 117,064 miles.
Buying a used Space Star?
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 57.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £187 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 41.4% 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.