Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 Mitsubishi Delica?

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 1991 Mitsubishi Delica?

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 1991 Mitsubishi Delica?

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 1991 Mitsubishi Delica vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% 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 1991 Mitsubishi Delica reliable?

Based on MOT data from 146 vehicles, the 1991 Mitsubishi Delica has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 Mitsubishi Delica?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 Mitsubishi Delica are: Oil leak (92.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (51.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear fog lamp not working (45.7% 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 1991 Mitsubishi Delica?

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 Delica (1991)

146 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.4% first-time pass rate

1991 Mitsubishi Delica

CarHunch analysed 146 real MOT records for the 1991 Mitsubishi Delica. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1991 Mitsubishi Delica — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

68.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

29.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.54

Over 10.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

142k

Middle half: 117k–172k

For context

These stats describe 146 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 146 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 92.5%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 51.7%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

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

Lighting 45.7%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Exhaust & emissions 32.8%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine

Tyre wear 25.7%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front 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 24.9%

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

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

Wipers & washers 18.5%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 146 Mitsubishi Delica cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Mitsubishi Delica

Based on MOT data from 146 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.5% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Mitsubishi Delica 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.

142,399

typical

116,659

low mileage

172,071

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Mitsubishi Delica vehicles fall between 116,659 and 172,071 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 116,659 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.

✓ 116,659–172,071 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Mitsubishi Delicas sit.

⚠ Over 232,295 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1991 Mitsubishi Delica — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 30% of 1991 Mitsubishi Delicas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 15 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (30% 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

10.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.54

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 2002 2005 2007

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

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Buyer beware — pass it on