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

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 Galant?

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 Galant?

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 1991 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?

Based on MOT data from 584 vehicles, the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.3%, 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 Galant?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant are: Oil leak (21.8% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (16.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (16.4% 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 1991 Mitsubishi Galant?

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 Galant (1991)

584 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.3% first-time pass rate

1991 Mitsubishi Galant

CarHunch analysed 584 real MOT records for the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant. 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 1991 Mitsubishi Galant has a below-average first-time pass rate (65.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

65.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

10.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.41

Over 4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

112k

Middle half: 89k–135k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.8 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 584 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 584 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 21.8%

Oil leak · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split

Brake wear 16.6%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Tyre wear 16.4%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

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

Suspension & steering 13.8%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded

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

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 584 Mitsubishi Galant cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Mitsubishi Galant

Based on MOT data from 584 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.8% 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
Petrol (99%)	580	65.3%	1.4

Colour Breakdown

Based on 16,157 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 27.6%

4,465

Red 19.1%

3,083

Blue 17.2%

2,774

Green 9.9%

1,594

White 8.2%

1,323

Turquoise 7.2%

1,171

Black 5.1%

820

Purple 2.1%

336

Grey 1.9%

303

Beige 0.9%

151

Maroon 0.5%

Gold 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Mitsubishi Galant 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.

112,353

typical

88,592

low mileage

135,137

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles fall between 88,592 and 135,137 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 88,592 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.

✓ 88,592–135,137 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Mitsubishi Galants sit.

⚠ Over 182,434 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 Galant — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 65% of 1991 Mitsubishi Galants are still active.

15 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 — 65% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.41

Avg failures per vehicle

3.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

See how the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on