Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum?

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 Legnum?

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 Legnum?

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 Legnum vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

20% 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 Legnum reliable?

Based on MOT data from 119 vehicles, the 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (47.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (43.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (41.9% 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 Legnum?

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 Legnum (1997)

119 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.4% first-time pass rate

1997 Mitsubishi Legnum

CarHunch analysed 119 real MOT records for the 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum. 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 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum is struggling by reliability standards, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 71.4%—nearly 9 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—and one in five have experienced dangerous defects, which is a genuine red flag for a buyer. These petrol-engined examples show no meaningful difference in pass rates, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At 105,000 miles median, these cars are racking up typical mileage for their age, but they're arriving at MOT with an average of 3 failures and nearly 14 advisories per test, suggesting accumulated wear and deferred maintenance are the norm. Before purchasing one, have a pre-buy inspection specifically check the structural and brake systems, since the 20% dangerous defect rate indicates these areas are the real vulnerability on this model.

We have limited data for the 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum — 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

71.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

20.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.01

Over 9.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

105k

Middle half: 84k–133k

For context

These stats describe 119 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 119 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 47.8%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · …

Tyre wear 43.9%

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

Other issues 38.7%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 29.2%

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

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

Suspension & steering 17%

Offside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Lighting 16.6%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working

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

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 119 Mitsubishi Legnum cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum

Based on MOT data from 119 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.2% 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 (97%)	116	71.5%	3

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum 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.

105,153

typical

83,886

low mileage

133,025

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum vehicles fall between 83,886 and 133,025 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 83,886 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.

✓ 83,886–133,025 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Mitsubishi Legnums sit.

⚠ Over 179,583 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 Legnum — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 27% of 1997 Mitsubishi Legnums are still active.

Numbers are declining — 13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (27% 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

9.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.01

Avg failures per vehicle

13.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1996

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