Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2000 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 2000 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 2000 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.

How many 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% 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 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,609 vehicles, the 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma 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 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (46.2% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (44% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (42.2% 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 2000 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 (2000)

4,609 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.3% first-time pass rate

2000 Mitsubishi Carisma

CarHunch analysed 4,609 real MOT records for the 2000 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma passes its MOT first time only 69.3% of the time, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly one in five owners (21.9%) will encounter a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for buyers prioritising safety. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly, both struggling around the 70% pass mark.

At 78,980 miles median, these cars have covered a typical distance for their age, yet they're racking up 3.26 failures and 10.8 advisories per test on average, suggesting wear-related issues are common. Before buying, budget for near-certain repairs and get a pre-purchase inspection focused on braking and suspension, where dangerous defects cluster on this model.

The 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma 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)

21.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.26

Over 10 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 64k–97k

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 10.8 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 4,609 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 4,609 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 46.2%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive · …

Tyre wear 44%

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

Brake wear 35.6%

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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2000.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,609 Mitsubishi Carisma cars.

Before you buy a 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma

Based on MOT data from 4,609 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.9% 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
Petrol (98%)	4,502	69.3%	3.28
Diesel (2%)	104	70.8%	2.56

Colour Breakdown

Based on 40,851 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 28.6%

11,694

Blue 22.3%

9,120

Red 22.2%

9,063

Grey 7.6%

3,097

Black 7.4%

3,013

White 5.9%

2,390

Green 5.7%

2,326

Gold 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Purple 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2000 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.

78,980

typical

64,297

low mileage

96,751

high mileage

Half of all 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles fall between 64,297 and 96,751 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 64,297 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.

✓ 64,297–96,751 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2000 Mitsubishi Carismas sit.

⚠ Over 130,613 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2000 Mitsubishi Carisma — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2000 Mitsubishi Carismas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 67 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
* 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

3.26

Avg failures per vehicle

10.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004

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Buyer beware — pass it on