Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Mitsubishi Evo?

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 1999 Mitsubishi Evo?

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 1999 Mitsubishi Evo?

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 1999 Mitsubishi Evo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles, the 1999 Mitsubishi Evo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Mitsubishi Evo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Mitsubishi Evo are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (42.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (35.4% 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 1999 Mitsubishi Evo?

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 Evo (1999)

101 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.6% first-time pass rate

1999 Mitsubishi Evo

CarHunch analysed 101 real MOT records for the 1999 Mitsubishi Evo. 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 Compare Models

The 1999 Mitsubishi Evo passes its MOT on the first attempt 83.6% of the time, which is a solid 3.6 percentage points above the UK average and suggests these cars are reasonably well-maintained overall. The dangerous defect rate sits at 11.9%, which is below the concerning threshold, so structural and safety issues aren't a major red flag for the model.

At 75,330 miles on average, these near-25-year-old cars have covered relatively modest distances, indicating many are cherished rather than thrashed. With 2.12 failures per vehicle and nearly 10 advisories each at test time, you're looking at cars that need attention to wear items and minor issues—typical for the age—but if you're buying one, budget for some immediate work on consumables like brake pads, exhausts, and suspension components.

We have limited data for the 1999 Mitsubishi Evo — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

83.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

11.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.12

Over 11.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

74k

Middle half: 59k–97k

For context

These stats describe 101 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 101 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 42.8%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive · Exhaust noisy · …

Tyre wear 36.9%

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.

Brake wear 14%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear 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.

Other issues 13.7%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Lighting 8.1%

Rear fog lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 101 Mitsubishi Evo cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Mitsubishi Evo

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.9% 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 (95%)	96	83.3%	2.22

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Mitsubishi Evo 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.

73,694

typical

58,902

low mileage

97,382

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Mitsubishi Evo vehicles fall between 58,902 and 97,382 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,902 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.

✓ 58,902–97,382 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Mitsubishi Evos sit.

⚠ Over 131,465 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Mitsubishi Evo — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 54% of 1999 Mitsubishi Evos are still active.

31 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 54% of the peak remain.

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

11.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.12

Avg failures per vehicle

9.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 1999 Mitsubishi Evo stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?