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Mitsubishi Colt (1997)

2,815 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.1% first-time pass rate

1997 Mitsubishi Colt

CarHunch analysed 2,815 real MOT records for the 1997 Mitsubishi Colt. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 10.9% below UK average
69.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
81,831
typical mileage
63,583–101,631 middle half
16.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.82
avg MOT failures per car
over 8.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1997 Mitsubishi Colt

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Mitsubishi Colt

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 2,812 69% 2.82
Diesel (0%) 3 80% 1.33

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

63,583
low mileage
81,831
typical
101,631
high mileage

Half of all 1997 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles fall between 63,583 and 101,631 miles.

1997 Mitsubishi Colt — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 35 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).

561 35 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

8.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.82
Avg failures per vehicle
9.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1997 Mitsubishi Colt

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 40.5%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 40.2%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 32.6%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 31.9%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive
  • 30.9%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 29.5%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 29.2%
    Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 28.5%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mitsubishi Colt?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Mitsubishi Colt:

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013