Mitsubishi Colt (2004)
2004 Mitsubishi Colt
CarHunch analysed 2,012 real MOT records for the 2004 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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The 2004 Mitsubishi Colt's first-time pass rate of 73.1% trails the UK average of 80%, which is a meaningful gap—roughly one in four of these cars fail their MOT on first attempt. More concerning is that 37.3% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd want to see, so you're buying into a cohort with genuine safety risks that need careful inspection.
These cars are averaging around 60,600 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they rack up 4.81 failures and 18.9 advisories per vehicle—indicating corrosion, wear, and deferred maintenance are endemic. Before committing to a purchase, get a thorough pre-buy inspection that specifically checks suspension, braking components, and underside condition, since this generation clearly struggles with durability rather than catastrophic mechanical failure.
The 2004 Mitsubishi Colt has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.1% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 2,012 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 2,012 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
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 2,012 Mitsubishi Colt cars.
Before you buy a 2004 Mitsubishi Colt
Based on MOT data from 2,012 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
37.3% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (89%) | 1,791 | 73.2% | 4.83 |
| Diesel (11%) | 220 | 72.3% | 4.7 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 68,750 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 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.
Half of all 2004 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles fall between 43,644 and 72,160 miles.
2004 Mitsubishi Colt — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 18% of 2004 Mitsubishi Colts are still active.
Numbers are declining — 300 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2004 Mitsubishi Colt stacks up against a rival.