Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 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 1997 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 1997 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 1997 Mitsubishi Delica vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% 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 1997 Mitsubishi Delica reliable?

Based on MOT data from 230 vehicles, the 1997 Mitsubishi Delica has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.9%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Mitsubishi Delica?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Mitsubishi Delica are: Oil leak (75.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (44% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (42.6% 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 1997 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 (1997)

230 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.9% first-time pass rate

1997 Mitsubishi Delica

CarHunch analysed 230 real MOT records for the 1997 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1997 Mitsubishi Delica is a notably unreliable prospect, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.9% — well below the UK average of 80% — and a troubling 37.8% of vehicles showing dangerous defects at some point. This is a vehicle that demands serious caution from any potential buyer, regardless of fuel type or apparent mileage.

These Delicas are now 27 years old and averaging around 128,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but the real issue is the pattern of failure: owners face an average of 5.26 failures and 25 advisories per test, suggesting systemic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before committing to one, have a trusted mechanic conduct a full pre-purchase inspection with particular focus on braking and suspension components, since dangerous defects are this common.

We have limited data for the 1997 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

67.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

37.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.26

Over 15.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

126k

Middle half: 97k–157k

For context

These stats describe 230 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 230 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 75.2%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 44%

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Lighting 41.7%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working · Rear fog lamp not working

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

Tyre wear 40.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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.

Suspension & steering 38%

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play

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

Exhaust & emissions 28.7%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 230 Mitsubishi Delica cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Mitsubishi Delica

Based on MOT data from 230 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37.8% 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
Diesel (93%)	215	67.2%	5.46

Colour Breakdown

Based on 5,386 Mitsubishi Delica vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 31%

1,669

Blue 24.7%

1,331

Black 18.9%

1,017

White 11.1%

599

Silver 8.7%

467

Grey 4%

218

Red 0.6%

Gold 0.5%

Beige 0.1%

Turquoise 0.1%

Bronze 0.1%

Purple 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 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.

125,550

typical

96,828

low mileage

157,374

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Mitsubishi Delica vehicles fall between 96,828 and 157,374 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 96,828 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.

✓ 96,828–157,374 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Mitsubishi Delicas sit.

⚠ Over 212,454 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Mitsubishi Delica — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 36% of 1997 Mitsubishi Delicas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 49 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (36% 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

15.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.26

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Buyer beware — pass it on