Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Mitsubishi Colt?

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 1998 Mitsubishi Colt?

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 1998 Mitsubishi Colt?

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 1998 Mitsubishi Colt reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,764 vehicles, the 1998 Mitsubishi Colt has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Mitsubishi Colt?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Mitsubishi Colt are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (51.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (41.3% 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 1998 Mitsubishi Colt?

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 Colt (1998)

2,764 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70% first-time pass rate

1998 Mitsubishi Colt

CarHunch analysed 2,764 real MOT records for the 1998 Mitsubishi Colt. 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 1998 Mitsubishi Colt struggles to meet UK MOT expectations, with a 70% pass rate sitting 10 percentage points below the national average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests age-related wear is catching up with this 25-year-old model. The 16.9% of vehicles that have recorded dangerous defects isn't alarming, but it's a reminder to have any used example inspected thoroughly before purchase.

These cars are typically showing around 76,000 miles on the clock, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're averaging 3 failures and over 10 advisories per test, indicating that worn suspension, brakes, and exhaust components are commonplace. Before buying, budget for near-term repairs and insist on a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the steering, cooling system, and underbody—areas where these Colts tend to disappoint.

The 1998 Mitsubishi Colt has a below-average first-time pass rate (70% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

70%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

16.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.02

Over 9.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

76k

Middle half: 59k–95k

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 10.1 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 2,764 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 2,764 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 53.7%

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 41.3%

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.

Exhaust & emissions 28%

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

Other issues 21.4%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 19.9%

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive · Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Wipers & washers 18.8%

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,764 Mitsubishi Colt cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Mitsubishi Colt

Based on MOT data from 2,764 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.9% 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 (100%)	2,761	70%	3.02

Colour Breakdown

Based on 68,750 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 25.1%

17,289

Silver 19.8%

13,642

Black 18.1%

12,444

Red 17.4%

11,964

Grey 7.5%

5,167

White 6.7%

4,576

Green 4.3%

2,970

Orange 0.7%

472

Gold 0.1%

100

Purple 0.1%

Brown 0.1%

Yellow 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Mitsubishi Colt 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.

76,325

typical

58,975

low mileage

94,938

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles fall between 58,975 and 94,938 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,975 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.

✓ 58,975–94,938 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Mitsubishi Colts sit.

⚠ Over 128,166 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Mitsubishi Colt — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 1998 Mitsubishi Colts are still active.

Numbers are declining — 39 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

9.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.02

Avg failures per vehicle

10.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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Buyer beware — pass it on