Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma?

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 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma?

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 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma?

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.

Is the 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma reliable?

Based on MOT data from 121 vehicles, the 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.5%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma are: Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (34.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (34.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.7% 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 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma?

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 Carisma (1995)

121 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.5% first-time pass rate

1995 Mitsubishi Carisma

CarHunch analysed 121 real MOT records for the 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma. 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 MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma has a first-time pass rate of just 67.5%, well below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these nearly 30-year-old cars are losing the battle against age and wear. While dangerous defects aren't rampant at 11.6%, the average vehicle still racks up 2.03 failures per MOT, indicating systematic reliability issues rather than one-off problems.

At nearly 105,000 miles on average, these Carismas have covered typical mileage for their age, yet they're still arriving at MOT with an average of 7.3 advisories apiece—a sign that age-related decay is the real enemy here. If you're considering one, budget for repairs before purchase and expect ongoing maintenance costs; this is a car that needs a pre-buy inspection by someone who knows 1990s Mitsubishis well.

We have limited data for the 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

67.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

11.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.03

Over 6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 82k–122k

For context

These stats describe 121 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 121 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 34.9%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Tyre wear 34.7%

Nearside Front 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.

Other issues 21%

Oil leak

Exhaust & emissions 17%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Lighting 15.4%

Offside Stop lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1995.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 121 Mitsubishi Carisma cars.

Before you buy a 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma

Based on MOT data from 121 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.6% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma 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.

98,955

typical

81,641

low mileage

121,778

high mileage

Half of all 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles fall between 81,641 and 121,778 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 81,641 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.

✓ 81,641–121,778 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1995 Mitsubishi Carismas sit.

⚠ Over 164,400 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.03

Avg failures per vehicle

7.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

See how the 1995 Mitsubishi Carisma stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on