Proton Persona Compact Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Proton Persona Compact car check
Is the Proton Persona Compact reliable? We analysed 30,558 real MOT tests across 3,950 vehicles to find out.
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The Proton Persona Compact is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering rack gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Proton Persona Compact.
Proton Persona Compact Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Proton Persona Compact. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Proton Persona Compact MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Proton Persona Compact to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Proton Persona Compact Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Proton Persona Compact fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Proton Persona Compact Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Proton Persona Compact owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Proton Persona Compact MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Proton Persona Compact year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 99 | 68.7% | 19,150 | 54,402 | 74,882 |
| 2000 | 1,877 | 66.5% | 38,296 | 55,150 | 70,898 |
| 1999 | 6,811 | 66.6% | 41,868 | 58,282 | 77,123 |
| 1998 | 5,381 | 66.7% | 44,878 | 60,900 | 80,149 |
| 1997 | 9,594 | 66.9% | 47,738 | 64,887 | 83,423 |
| 1996 | 5,506 | 66.4% | 51,628 | 70,421 | 90,144 |
| 1995 | 1,265 | 67.4% | 50,036 | 68,576 | 85,312 |
How Long Does a Proton Persona Compact Last?
Based on 3,950 Proton Persona Compact vehicles on UK roads.
Proton Persona Compact Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Proton Persona Compact 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 Proton Persona Compact
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
68.7% MOT pass rate from 99 tests
66.4% MOT pass rate from 5,506 tests
The best year to buy a used Proton Persona Compact is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 68.7% across 99 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Proton Persona Compact Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Persona Compact THIS CAR | 66.7% | 30,558 | 63,044 mi | 31 yrs |
| Proton Persona | 66% | 104,196 | 68,588 mi | 32 yrs |
| Proton GEN-2 | 70.5% | 59,272 | 46,580 mi | 22 yrs |
| Proton Wira | 70.1% | 57,151 | 47,970 mi | 26 yrs |
| BMW 218I M Sport Auto | 89.5% | 30,646 | 28,920 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Proton Persona (66.0% pass rate) and the Proton GEN-2 (70.5% pass rate), the Proton Persona Compact sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
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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 Proton Persona CompactShould you buy a used Proton Persona Compact?
The Proton Persona Compact has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.7% across 30,558 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Proton Persona Compact are steering rack gaiter split (2,777 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,896), and brake pipe excessively corroded (1,449). 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 Proton Persona Compact owner drives around 3,958 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 Proton Persona Compact models stay on UK roads for around 31 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.