Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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 2002 Mitsubishi Canter vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

42% 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 2002 Mitsubishi Canter reliable?

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles, the 2002 Mitsubishi Canter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Canter?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Mitsubishi Canter are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (48.8% of vehicles), Oil leak (38.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (34.9% 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 2002 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 (2002)

335 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.3% first-time pass rate

2002 Mitsubishi Canter

CarHunch analysed 335 real MOT records for the 2002 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 335 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2002 Mitsubishi Canter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.3%, which is notably below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 42.4% of vehicles in this cohort have recorded dangerous defects at some point — making this a van that demands careful pre-purchase inspection and ongoing maintenance vigilance. Petrol versus diesel comparisons aren't applicable here since the Canter is a commercial vehicle with a single powertrain option.

At around 91,500 miles median, these vans have moderate mileage for their age, yet they're still accumulating an average of 4.4 failures and 17.8 advisories per test, suggesting wear is catching up fast. Before buying, get a full pre-MOT inspection focusing on braking systems, suspension, and structural integrity, since the high failure and dangerous defect rates indicate these are the problem areas on aging Canters.

The 2002 Mitsubishi Canter has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.3% 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

71.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

42.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.4

Over 14 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

91k

Middle half: 69k–115k

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 17.8 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 335 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 335 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 48.8%

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

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

Other issues 38.9%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 34.9%

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

Lighting 33.1%

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

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

Tyre wear 33%

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 335 Mitsubishi Canter cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Mitsubishi Canter

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.4% 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

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 2002 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.

91,481

typical

69,318

low mileage

115,055

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Mitsubishi Canter vehicles fall between 69,318 and 115,055 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 69,318 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.

✓ 69,318–115,055 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Mitsubishi Canters sit.

⚠ Over 155,324 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Mitsubishi Canter — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2002 Mitsubishi Canters are still active.

Numbers are declining — 38 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% 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

4.4

Avg failures per vehicle

17.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Mitsubishi Canter stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on