Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Mitsubishi Canter?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1999 Mitsubishi Canter?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1999 Mitsubishi Canter?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 1999 Mitsubishi Canter vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1999 Mitsubishi Canter reliable?

Based on MOT data from 331 vehicles, the 1999 Mitsubishi Canter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Mitsubishi Canter?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Mitsubishi Canter are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (43.6% of vehicles), Oil leak (35.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (28.5% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1999 Mitsubishi Canter?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mitsubishi Canter (1999)

331 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.3% first-time pass rate

1999 Mitsubishi Canter

CarHunch analysed 331 real MOT records for the 1999 Mitsubishi Canter. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 331 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1999 Mitsubishi Canter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.3%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, which suggests these nearly 25-year-old trucks are prone to recurring faults. More concerning, one in three vehicles (33.5%) has recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making thorough pre-purchase inspection essential before committing to one.

At an average mileage of 114,168 miles, these Canters are running relatively hard for their age, yet they're still accumulating 3.63 failures and 14.1 advisories per test on average—indicating wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering buying one, budget for continuous maintenance and get a full specialist inspection focused on brakes, suspension, and steering components, which typically dominate the failure list on older commercial vehicles.

The 1999 Mitsubishi Canter has a below-average first-time pass rate (69.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

69.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

33.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.63

Over 11 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

107k

Middle half: 82k–136k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 14.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 331 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 331 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 43.6%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 35.9%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'

Tyre wear 28.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Inner Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 27.1%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Lighting 26.4%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working · Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 21.1%

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 331 Mitsubishi Canter cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Mitsubishi Canter

Based on MOT data from 331 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (100%)	330	69.2%	3.64

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,713 Mitsubishi Canter vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 82.4%

3,061

Blue 6%

221

Red 2.9%

108

Green 2.8%

105

Yellow 1.7%

Silver 1.5%

Black 1.1%

Grey 0.6%

Orange 0.5%

Maroon 0.2%

Unknown 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Mitsubishi Canter vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

106,825

typical

82,462

low mileage

136,497

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Mitsubishi Canter vehicles fall between 82,462 and 136,497 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 82,462 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 82,462–136,497 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Mitsubishi Canters sit.

⚠ Over 184,270 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Mitsubishi Canter — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 19% of 1999 Mitsubishi Canters are still active.

Numbers are declining — 22 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (19% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.63

Avg failures per vehicle

14.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Canter: All Canter years → Which year to buy? →

1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

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See how the 1999 Mitsubishi Canter stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on