Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

41% 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 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,532 vehicles, the 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (74.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (72.2% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (58.4% 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 2004 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 (2004)

2,532 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73% first-time pass rate

2004 Mitsubishi Carisma

CarHunch analysed 2,532 real MOT records for the 2004 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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On this page

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 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma falls short of the UK average with a 73% first-time pass rate versus the national 80%, and nearly 41% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant red flag for safety-critical failures. Diesel versions are particularly weaker, passing only 71.4% of the time compared to petrol's 74.8%, suggesting the older diesel engines in this cohort are showing their age more acutely.

At an average mileage of 81,571 for a 20-year-old car, these Carismas are mid-range in terms of wear, but they're averaging 4.28 failures per test and a concerning 23.1 advisories, indicating chronic minor issues accumulate steadily. If you're considering one, insist on a full pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers suspension, brakes, and emissions—the dangerous defect rate means structural or safety problems are far from rare.

The 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma has a below-average first-time pass rate (73% 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

73%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

40.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.28

Over 14.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

89k

Middle half: 69k–112k

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 23.1 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 2,532 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 2,532 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 74.7%

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 58.4%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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 52.8%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 31.9%

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

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 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,532 Mitsubishi Carisma cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

74.8%

Petrol

1,150 vehicles

71.4%

Diesel

1,380 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma

Based on MOT data from 2,532 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40.9% 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
Diesel (55%)	1,380	71.4%	4.55
Petrol (45%)	1,150	74.8%	3.97

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 2004 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.

88,531

typical

69,020

low mileage

111,568

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles fall between 69,020 and 111,568 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 69,020 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.

✓ 69,020–111,568 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Mitsubishi Carismas sit.

⚠ Over 150,616 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Mitsubishi Carisma — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 2004 Mitsubishi Carismas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 137 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% 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

14.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.28

Avg failures per vehicle

23.1

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 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on