Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Proton Satria?

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 Proton Satria?

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 Proton Satria?

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 Proton Satria vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% 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 Proton Satria reliable?

Based on MOT data from 625 vehicles, the 2002 Proton Satria has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.9%, 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 Proton Satria?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Proton Satria are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (64.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (51.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (49.6% 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 Proton Satria?

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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Proton Satria (2002)

625 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.9% first-time pass rate

2002 Proton Satria

CarHunch analysed 625 real MOT records for the 2002 Proton Satria. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2002 Proton Satria's first-time MOT pass rate of 70.9% falls noticeably short of the UK average of 80%, signalling below-average reliability for its age. More concerning, nearly a quarter of these vehicles (23.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a material red flag for any prospective buyer.

At around 50,600 miles on average, these cars show relatively low mileage for a 22-year-old model, yet they're still averaging 3.44 failures and 8.9 advisories per test, suggesting inherent durability issues rather than just high-mileage wear. Before committing to one, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on the mechanical systems that are failing most often—the advisory count hints at accumulated small problems that can become expensive when they compound.

The 2002 Proton Satria has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.9% 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

70.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

23.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.44

Over 11.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

48k

Middle half: 35k–61k

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 8.9 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 625 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 625 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 64.1%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · …

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

Tyre wear 51.3%

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.

Other issues 44.9%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 40.2%

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split · Offside Steering rack gaiter split

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

Lighting 37.5%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Exhaust & emissions 32.6%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Wipers & washers 18.3%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 625 Proton Satria cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Proton Satria

Based on MOT data from 625 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.4% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,775 Proton Satria vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 24.5%

680

Blue 19.4%

537

Red 16.6%

461

Gold 16.2%

449

Grey 12.9%

359

Green 5.3%

147

White 1.8%

Orange 1.5%

Yellow 1.3%

Black 0.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Proton Satria 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.

48,413

typical

35,369

low mileage

61,120

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Proton Satria vehicles fall between 35,369 and 61,120 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 35,369 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.

✓ 35,369–61,120 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Proton Satrias sit.

⚠ Over 82,512 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Proton Satria — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 8% of 2002 Proton Satrias are still active.

Numbers are declining — 17 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

11.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.44

Avg failures per vehicle

8.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Proton Satria: All Satria years → Which year to buy? →

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