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Mitsubishi Mirage Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mitsubishi Mirage car check

Is the Mitsubishi Mirage reliable? We analysed 97,130 real MOT tests across 11,123 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 97,130 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.4%
Typical Mileage
31,512mi
Annual Mileage
4,116mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
13yrs

The Mitsubishi Mirage is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mitsubishi Mirage.

Mitsubishi Mirage Number Plates

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

Mitsubishi Mirage MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.9%
2020
89%
2019
87%
2018
87.8%
2017
86.7%
2016
85.4%
2015
85.2%
2014
83.4%
2013
76.7%
1997

Mitsubishi Mirage Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 316
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 300

Mitsubishi Mirage Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mitsubishi Mirage models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,248
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 950
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 325
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 307

Mitsubishi Mirage Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,166 mi/yr
Typical
4,116 mi/yr
Average
5,229 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,930 mi/yr

Mitsubishi Mirage MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 821 88.9% 13,451 21,834 33,308
2019 5,440 89.0% 10,947 18,519 28,952
2018 6,360 87.0% 13,169 21,870 34,493
2017 9,524 87.8% 14,700 23,767 37,104
2016 11,752 86.7% 16,910 27,312 42,506
2015 14,829 85.4% 19,438 31,374 48,247
2014 19,613 85.2% 21,446 35,186 54,743
2013 27,865 83.4% 25,175 40,913 61,873
1997 60 76.7% 75,866 98,538 125,746

How Long Does a Mitsubishi Mirage Last?

Based on 11,123 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.9 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
13 years

Mitsubishi Mirage Mileage Distribution

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

Median
31,512 mi
75th Percentile
50,330 mi
95th Percentile
87,630 mi
Max Recorded
796,066 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mitsubishi Mirage

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

Best year
2019

89.0% MOT pass rate from 5,440 tests

Year to avoid
1997

76.7% MOT pass rate from 60 tests

The best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Mirage is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.0% across 5,440 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mitsubishi Mirage Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mitsubishi Mirage THIS CAR 85.4% 97,130 31,512 mi 13 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 Nx 91.8% 169,150 38,082 mi 12 yrs

Compared to the Mitsubishi L200 (74.1% pass rate) and the Mitsubishi Shogun (71.9% pass rate), the Mitsubishi Mirage outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mitsubishi Mirage?

The Mitsubishi Mirage has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.4% across 97,130 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 316 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mitsubishi Mirage with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mitsubishi Mirage owner drives around 4,116 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 Mirage models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. 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 Mirage — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?
Based on 97,130 MOT tests, the Mitsubishi Mirage has a 85.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mitsubishi Mirage?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
How many miles does a Mitsubishi Mirage do per year?
The typical Mitsubishi Mirage does around 4,116 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mitsubishi Mirage last?
Most Mitsubishi Mirage models stay on UK roads for around 13 years based on our analysis of 11,123 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mitsubishi Mirage?
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 Mirage?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Mirage is 2019 with a 89.0% pass rate across 5,440 tests.