Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,400 vehicles, the 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (72.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (70.7% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (48.5% 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 2003 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 (2003)

4,400 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.7% first-time pass rate

2003 Mitsubishi Carisma

CarHunch analysed 4,400 real MOT records for the 2003 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma is notably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.7% against the national 80%, and a serious concern emerges in the dangerous defect figures—39.1% of these cars have recorded at least one dangerous fault, well above acceptable thresholds for a used purchase. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly (73.8% and 71.9% pass rates respectively), so fuel type offers no reliability advantage here.

These Carismas average 81,000 miles, which is reasonable for 20-year-old cars, but the real problem lies in what fails: owners face an average of 4.3 failures and 21.4 advisories per test, suggesting systemic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated weak points. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, braking, and corrosion, since the high failure volume indicates these areas deteriorate quickly on this model.

The 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.7% 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

72.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

39.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.31

Over 14.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

89k

Middle half: 69k–110k

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 21.4 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 4,400 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 4,400 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 72.1%

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 48.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Other issues 40.9%

Oil leak · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,400 Mitsubishi Carisma cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.8%

Petrol

1,887 vehicles

71.9%

Diesel

2,512 vehicles

Before you buy a 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma

Based on MOT data from 4,400 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39.1% 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 (57%)	2,512	71.9%	4.42
Petrol (43%)	1,887	73.8%	4.16

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 2003 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.

88,566

typical

69,209

low mileage

110,193

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles fall between 69,209 and 110,193 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 69,209 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.

✓ 69,209–110,193 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Mitsubishi Carismas sit.

⚠ Over 148,760 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Mitsubishi Carisma — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2003 Mitsubishi Carismas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 192 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% 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

14.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.31

Avg failures per vehicle

21.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Mitsubishi Carisma stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on