Mitsubishi Carisma Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mitsubishi Carisma car check
Is the Mitsubishi Carisma reliable? We analysed 391,885 real MOT tests across 40,862 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mitsubishi Carisma? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mitsubishi Carisma is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mitsubishi Carisma.
Mitsubishi Carisma Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mitsubishi Carisma. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mitsubishi Carisma MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mitsubishi Carisma to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mitsubishi Carisma Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mitsubishi Carisma fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mitsubishi Carisma Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mitsubishi Carisma owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mitsubishi Carisma MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mitsubishi Carisma year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,242 | 72.3% | 41,415 | 66,505 | 99,188 |
| 2004 | 37,706 | 71.1% | 48,427 | 75,884 | 108,960 |
| 2003 | 65,398 | 71.0% | 48,890 | 76,550 | 108,686 |
| 2002 | 41,029 | 70.8% | 50,439 | 74,772 | 102,498 |
| 2001 | 34,364 | 68.8% | 55,125 | 74,872 | 98,009 |
| 2000 | 46,156 | 67.3% | 59,102 | 78,477 | 100,941 |
| 1999 | 38,283 | 66.6% | 66,357 | 86,889 | 110,409 |
| 1998 | 51,636 | 65.7% | 69,572 | 90,828 | 115,122 |
| 1997 | 50,707 | 67.3% | 74,458 | 95,508 | 119,056 |
| 1996 | 24,469 | 67.2% | 76,426 | 96,602 | 119,168 |
| 1995 | 756 | 66.8% | 78,974 | 99,912 | 120,787 |
How Long Does a Mitsubishi Carisma Last?
Based on 40,862 Mitsubishi Carisma vehicles on UK roads.
Mitsubishi Carisma Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mitsubishi Carisma MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mitsubishi Carisma
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.3% MOT pass rate from 1,242 tests
65.7% MOT pass rate from 51,636 tests
The best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Carisma is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.3% across 1,242 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Mitsubishi Carisma Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Carisma THIS CAR | 68.5% | 391,885 | 83,722 mi | 30 yrs |
| Mitsubishi L200 | 74.1% | 1,362,678 | 80,302 mi | 29 yrs |
| Mitsubishi Shogun | 71.9% | 1,312,716 | 107,142 mi | 37 yrs |
| Mitsubishi Colt | 72.5% | 950,325 | 59,666 mi | 30 yrs |
| Lexus IS200 | 75.4% | 546,826 | 87,139 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Mitsubishi L200 (74.1% pass rate) and the Mitsubishi Shogun (71.9% pass rate), the Mitsubishi Carisma trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Mitsubishi Carisma you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mitsubishi CarismaShould you buy a used Mitsubishi Carisma?
The Mitsubishi Carisma has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.5% across 391,885 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Mitsubishi Carisma are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (27,459 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (26,417), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (13,791). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Mitsubishi Carisma owner drives around 6,543 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Mitsubishi Carisma models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.