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

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 Space Wagon?

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 Space Wagon?

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 Space Wagon 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 Space Wagon reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,967 vehicles, the 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon?

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 Space Wagon (1997)

1,967 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.7% first-time pass rate

1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon

CarHunch analysed 1,967 real MOT records for the 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 1997 Space Wagon is a reliability concern: a 66.7% first-time pass rate sits well below the UK average of 80%, and one in five of these vehicles (20.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making safety a genuine buyer worry. The consistently poor performance across the petrol variants suggests the issue is systemic to the model rather than fuel-type specific.

At just over 106,000 miles on average, these cars are racking up typical mileage for their age, but they're paying the price in wear—the 3.04 average failures per test and 8.5 advisories point to ageing suspension, brakes, and exhaust systems rather than catastrophic faults. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist focused on structural rust and suspension integrity, as the high advisory count hints these areas are deteriorating.

The 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.7% 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

66.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

20.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.04

Over 8.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

102k

Middle half: 86k–121k

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 8.5 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 1,967 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

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,967 Mitsubishi Space Wagon cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon

Based on MOT data from 1,967 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.1% 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%)	1,945	66.7%	3.03

Colour Breakdown

Based on 18,759 Mitsubishi Space Wagon vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.1%

5,645

Silver 22.6%

4,242

Red 22.4%

4,196

White 10.4%

1,951

Green 6.2%

1,160

Grey 3.4%

635

Beige 1.7%

310

Maroon 1.1%

200

Black 0.7%

138

Gold 0.6%

114

Purple 0.5%

Brown 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon 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.

102,129

typical

86,169

low mileage

121,024

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagon vehicles fall between 86,169 and 121,024 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 86,169 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.

✓ 86,169–121,024 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagons sit.

⚠ Over 163,382 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 Space Wagon — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1997 Mitsubishi Space Wagons are still active.

Numbers are declining — 14 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

8.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.04

Avg failures per vehicle

8.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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