Used buying checklist
Mitsubishi Colt reliability, common problems and used buying checks
A used Mitsubishi Colt looks worse than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 26.2% of 33,643 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.
Start with corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.
- 26.2% MOT failure rate
- Median tested mileage 80,339 miles
- 8,800 failed MOT tests analysed
Corrosion and structure is the clearest area to check
Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (40.0 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened, prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, and corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced.
Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:
- corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened
- prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength
- corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- prescribed area fractured significantly reducing structural strength
- Play in steering rack inner joint(s)
- ball joint has excessive play
- ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt
- ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated
- lens slightly defective
- slightly damaged
Focus on corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical
The model's recorded failure rate is 26.2%, +7.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.
- MOT tests analysed33,643 tests
- Median tested mileage80,339 miles
- Failed MOT tests8,800
Should you buy a used Mitsubishi Colt?
73.8% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 26.2%, +7.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.
- Repeat unresolved MOT notes for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical
- corrosion and structure appearing across more than one MOT
- Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
- No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
- A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened"
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.
Start with corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (40.0 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Past 100k miles on the Mitsubishi Colt, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.
The MOT failure rate rises from 33.3% at 0-3 years to 28.4% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%.
Start with corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller.
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
What should I check first?
Start with corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.
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Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results
Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (40.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.
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Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results
Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (32.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.
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Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results
Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (21.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.
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Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results
Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (13.9 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.
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Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (11.2 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.
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Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results
Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.1 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.
What changes with mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Mitsubishi Colt, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.
Common MOT problem areas
Common faults: what usually fails on this model?
Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (40.0 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Recall-related areas to verify
Official recall areas
Manufacturer recall notices for the Mitsubishi Colt mainly involve 4 areas: emissions, engine, and exhaust, suspension and steering, brakes, and seatbelts and safety systems. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.
Mileage and age checks
Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Mitsubishi Colt, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.
| Mileage range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-50k | 5,594 | 4,619 | 16.9%+6.1 percentage points vs all models | 38,000 miles |
| 50-100k | 18,426 | 13,608 | 26.2%+5.4 percentage points vs all models | 75,555 miles |
| 100-150k | 8,439 | 5,906 | 31.7%+5.5 percentage points vs all models | 115,754 miles |
| 150-200k | 930 | 656 | 34.1%+6.8 percentage points vs all models | 162,416 miles |
| 200k+ | 97 | 63 | 38.1%+11.6 percentage points vs all models | 217,285 miles |
Problem areas by mileage
Past 100k miles on the Mitsubishi Colt, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, suspension and steering, and lights and electrical.
| Mileage range | Car areas most often recorded | Specific MOT defect examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50k |
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| 50-100k |
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| 100-150k |
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| 150-200k |
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| 200k+ |
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Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?
The MOT failure rate rises from 33.3% at 0-3 years to 28.4% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 33.3% for 0-3 years cars, based on 3 tests.
| Age range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 years 2023–2026 reg. |
3 | 2 | 33.3%+24.9 percentage points vs all models | 2.4 years |
| 3-6 years 2020–2023 reg. |
14 | 11 | 21.4%+10.8 percentage points vs all models | 4.3 years |
| 6-10 years 2016–2020 reg. |
234 | 195 | 15.8%-0.8 percentage points vs all models | 10.0 years |
| 10-15 years 2011–2016 reg. |
16,074 | 12,188 | 23.9%+0.4 percentage points vs all models | 13.5 years |
| 15+ years pre-2011 reg. |
17,318 | 12,483 | 28.4%+2.5 percentage points vs all models | 16.5 years |
Recall records and data freshness
Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
| 2021-07-25 | THE AIR BAG INFLATOR MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT PERFORMANCE THAN DESIGNED PROVIDING LESS PROTECTION The airbag inflator might have a different airbag deployment performance than designed providing less protection. The driver side frontal airbag will be replaced with an alternate inflator. |
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| 2015-09-21 | EPS SYSTEM MAY MALFUNCTION A connector pin for the electronic power steering may not be to specification. This will lead to increased resistance in the circuit causing the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) to stop working. The steering will still function in manual mode requiring increased input from the driver. The EPS warning lamp may illuminate temporarily. Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the EPS Gear and Link assembly. |
| 2012-01-19 | FUEL MAY LEAK It is possible that air has been trapped within the fuel pump mounting cap mouldings which could lead to the cap cracking and fuel vapour and/or fuel might leak from the tank. Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to replace the fuel pump mounting cap. |
| 2002-03-12 | ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CONCERN The crankshaft pulley may become loose causing a rattling noise from the engine battery warning light to come on and a high steering effort will be noticed. All recalled vehicles will have the crankshaft pulley bolt tightened to the correct specified torque. |
| 2000-11-06 | POTENTIAL DETACHMENT OF CRANKSHAFT PULLEY The Crankshaft Pulley securing bolt may not have been correctly torqued. The bolt may loosen or break and in the worst case result in detachment of the pulley. All engines up to engine number YD2145 - remove pulley securing bolt increase the depth of the thread in the Crankshaft by 5 mm. Check bolt for damage and renew if necessary. Lubricate threads refit and tighten to specified torque. Engines numbered from YD2146 onwards - remove pulley securing bolt examine for damage and renew if necessary lubricate threads refit and tighten to specified torque. |
| 1997-11-01 | LOSS OF BRAKING SYSTEM VACUUM ASSISTANCE The brake booster vacuum hose check valve may stick and cause a loss of vacuum to the brake booster. This will result in greatly increased brake pedal effort and increased stopping distances. The affected vehicles are being recalled to have the brake booster vacuum hose replaced with a quality assured unit. |
Related searches
Common ways people look up the Mitsubishi Colt. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.
Related reliability guides
See where this model sits against other Mitsubishi reports by MOT failure rate and common problem area.
Compare high-confidence model reports across all makes.
Use the fleet mileage baseline before checking this model's own mileage table.
Compare this model's age pattern with the wider MOT baseline.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.