Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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.

How many 2002 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 2002 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?

Based on MOT data from 874 vehicles, the 2002 Mitsubishi Galant has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Galant?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Mitsubishi Galant are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (52.8% 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 2002 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 (2002)

874 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.2% first-time pass rate

2002 Mitsubishi Galant

CarHunch analysed 874 real MOT records for the 2002 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 2002 Mitsubishi Galant falls well short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 71.2% against the national benchmark of 80%. More concerning is that 28.5% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and should give potential buyers real pause.

These Galants are averaging around 75,500 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up 4.09 failures per vehicle on average—a sign of genuine mechanical wear rather than minor niggles. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, braking and cooling system components, as the advisory count of 17.8 per car suggests accumulated corrosion and age-related deterioration are widespread.

The 2002 Mitsubishi Galant has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

71.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

28.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.09

Over 13.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

76k

Middle half: 58k–93k

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 17.8 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 874 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 874 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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 52.8%

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

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

Other issues 49%

Oil leak

Lighting 29.4%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

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

Exhaust & emissions 26.4%

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Suspension & steering 24.1%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 874 Mitsubishi Galant cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant

Based on MOT data from 874 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.5% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	872	71.3%	4.08

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 2002 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.

75,561

typical

58,038

low mileage

92,617

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles fall between 58,038 and 92,617 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,038 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.

✓ 58,038–92,617 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Mitsubishi Galants sit.

⚠ Over 125,032 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Mitsubishi Galant — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 8% of 2002 Mitsubishi Galants are still active.

Numbers are declining — 39 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (8% 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

13.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.09

Avg failures per vehicle

17.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Mitsubishi Galant stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on