Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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.

How many 2012 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% 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 2012 Mitsubishi Colt reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,738 vehicles, the 2012 Mitsubishi Colt has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Mitsubishi Colt?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Mitsubishi Colt are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (52.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (44.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.2% 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 2012 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 (2012)

1,738 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.7% first-time pass rate

2012 Mitsubishi Colt

CarHunch analysed 1,738 real MOT records for the 2012 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 2012 Mitsubishi Colt's 80.7% first-time pass rate is marginally better than the UK average of 80%, but this masks a serious concern: 36.9% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above typical levels and a significant buyer red flag. This suggests that while many pass their MOT, those that fail often fail badly.

These Colts are running at a relatively modest 47,803 miles on average for their age, yet they're accumulating 2.64 failures and 12.5 advisories per vehicle, pointing to aging components and maintenance issues that compound over time. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, braking system condition, and exhaust components—the dangerous defect prevalence indicates these areas are where problems cluster.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Colt has a decent first-time pass rate (80.7%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

80.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

36.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.64

Over 12.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

45k

Middle half: 32k–61k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 12.5 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 1,738 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,738 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 52.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Tyre wear 44.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 22.2%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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

Lighting 15.6%

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 15.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,738 Mitsubishi Colt cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Mitsubishi Colt

Based on MOT data from 1,738 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.9% 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%)	1,737	80.7%	2.64

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 2012 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.

44,860

typical

31,667

low mileage

60,675

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Mitsubishi Colt vehicles fall between 31,667 and 60,675 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 31,667 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.

✓ 31,667–60,675 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Mitsubishi Colts sit.

⚠ Over 81,911 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Mitsubishi Colt — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Mitsubishi Colts are still being driven.

Strong survival — 1,345 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 81% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

12.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.64

Avg failures per vehicle

12.5

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 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013

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Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Mitsubishi Colt stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing