Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Mitsubishi I?

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 2012 Mitsubishi I?

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 2012 Mitsubishi I?

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 2012 Mitsubishi I vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% 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 2012 Mitsubishi I reliable?

Based on MOT data from 102 vehicles, the 2012 Mitsubishi I has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Mitsubishi I?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Mitsubishi I are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (6.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (5.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (5.8% 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 2012 Mitsubishi I?

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 I (2012)

102 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.8% first-time pass rate

2012 Mitsubishi I

CarHunch analysed 102 real MOT records for the 2012 Mitsubishi I. 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 2012 Mitsubishi i is notably reliable for its age, with an 89.8% first-time MOT pass rate that beats the UK average of 80%. However, over one in five of these vehicles (21.6%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a material concern for any prospective buyer and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

These are low-mileage examples, averaging just 28,678 miles at around 12 years old, suggesting many have been lightly used or well-maintained. The average vehicle has only 1.19 failures per test but racks up 10.1 advisories, pointing to wear items and minor corrosion rather than structural problems—check suspension components and underbody condition carefully before buying.

We have limited data for the 2012 Mitsubishi I — 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

89.8%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

21.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.19

Over 9.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 20k–34k

For context

These stats describe 102 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 102 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 6.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Brake wear 5.8%

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

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

Other issues 4.9%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Wipers & washers 3.6%

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Suspension & steering 3.1%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 102 Mitsubishi I cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Mitsubishi I

Based on MOT data from 102 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.6% 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
Electric (98%)	100	89.8%	1.18

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Mitsubishi I 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.

27,864

typical

20,263

low mileage

34,445

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Mitsubishi I vehicles fall between 20,263 and 34,445 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 20,263 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.

✓ 20,263–34,445 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Mitsubishi Is sit.

⚠ Over 46,500 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Mitsubishi I — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 63% of 2012 Mitsubishi Is are still active.

59 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 63% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

9.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.19

Avg failures per vehicle

10.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2008 2011

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See how the 2012 Mitsubishi I stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?