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Mitsubishi Estate Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mitsubishi Estate car check

Is the Mitsubishi Estate reliable? We analysed 1,035 real MOT tests across 113 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,035 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.5%
Typical Mileage
116,548mi
Annual Mileage
6,831mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Mitsubishi Estate is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mitsubishi Estate.

Mitsubishi Estate Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mitsubishi Estate. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mitsubishi Estate MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mitsubishi Estate to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

73%
2005
71.1%
2004
74.3%
2003
66.3%
2002
74.6%
2001
70.9%
1996
70.7%
1994
66%
1993

Mitsubishi Estate Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mitsubishi Estate fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 82
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 46
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 38
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 35
fog lamp not working 34
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 31
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 30
Registration plate lamp not working 27
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 17
Steering rack gaiter split 17

Mitsubishi Estate Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mitsubishi Estate owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,723 mi/yr
Typical
6,831 mi/yr
Average
7,886 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,431 mi/yr

Mitsubishi Estate MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mitsubishi Estate year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 63 73.0% 71,838 117,046 129,354
2004 173 71.1% 83,912 102,406 132,044
2003 136 74.3% 83,991 104,452 133,920
2002 86 66.3% 82,187 110,372 130,638
2001 71 74.6% 73,069 108,122 137,460
1996 86 70.9% 79,400 131,316 171,985
1994 75 70.7% 94,021 133,887 168,440
1993 50 66.0% 83,205 102,518 158,081

How Long Does a Mitsubishi Estate Last?

Based on 113 Mitsubishi Estate vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.7 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Mitsubishi Estate Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mitsubishi Estate MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
116,548 mi
75th Percentile
146,548 mi
95th Percentile
215,435 mi
Max Recorded
925,255 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mitsubishi Estate

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2001

74.6% MOT pass rate from 71 tests

Year to avoid
1993

66.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests

The best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Estate is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.6% across 71 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mitsubishi Estate Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mitsubishi Estate THIS CAR 69.5% 1,035 116,548 mi 33 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
Mercedes 614D 78.4% 1,351 144,428 mi 28 yrs

Compared to the Mitsubishi L200 (74.1% pass rate) and the Mitsubishi Shogun (71.9% pass rate), the Mitsubishi Estate trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mitsubishi Estate?

The Mitsubishi Estate has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.5% across 1,035 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Mitsubishi Estate are brake pipe excessively corroded (82 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (46), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (38). 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 Estate owner drives around 6,831 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 Estate models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.

Mitsubishi Estate — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mitsubishi Estate reliable?
Based on 1,035 MOT tests, the Mitsubishi Estate has a 69.5% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Mitsubishi Estate?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mitsubishi Estate do per year?
The typical Mitsubishi Estate does around 6,831 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mitsubishi Estate last?
Most Mitsubishi Estate models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 113 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mitsubishi Estate?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mitsubishi Estate?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Estate is 2001 with a 74.6% pass rate across 71 tests.