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Proton Persona Compact Spectrum Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Proton Persona Compact Spectrum car check

Is the Proton Persona Compact Spectrum reliable? We analysed 663 real MOT tests across 112 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 663 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.8%
Typical Mileage
58,091mi
Annual Mileage
5,608mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Proton Persona Compact Spectrum 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 stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Proton Persona Compact Spectrum.

Proton Persona Compact Spectrum Number Plates

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

Proton Persona Compact Spectrum MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Proton Persona Compact Spectrum to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

64.2%
2000
65.7%
1999

Proton Persona Compact Spectrum Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Proton Persona Compact Spectrum fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Steering rack gaiter split 76
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 43
Stop lamp not working 38
Registration plate lamp not working 26
Brake pipe excessively corroded 25
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 25
Horn not working 24
position lamp(s) not working 21
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 19
fog lamp not working 19

Proton Persona Compact Spectrum Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,925 mi/yr
Typical
5,608 mi/yr
Average
6,687 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,443 mi/yr

Proton Persona Compact Spectrum MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Proton Persona Compact Spectrum year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 179 64.2% 45,128 56,666 75,315
1999 467 65.7% 44,066 59,507 75,318

How Long Does a Proton Persona Compact Spectrum Last?

Based on 112 Proton Persona Compact Spectrum vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.9 years
Median
8.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Proton Persona Compact Spectrum Mileage Distribution

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

Median
58,091 mi
75th Percentile
75,309 mi
95th Percentile
108,094 mi
Max Recorded
178,572 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Proton Persona Compact Spectrum

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

Best year
1999

65.7% MOT pass rate from 467 tests

Year to avoid
2000

64.2% MOT pass rate from 179 tests

The best year to buy a used Proton Persona Compact Spectrum is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 65.7% across 467 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.2% — 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 Spectrum 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 Spectrum THIS CAR 65.8% 663 58,091 mi 27 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
Lincoln Continental 80.8% 1,121 57,822 mi 48 yrs

Compared to the Proton Persona (66.0% pass rate) and the Proton GEN-2 (70.5% pass rate), the Proton Persona Compact Spectrum trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Proton Persona Compact Spectrum?

The Proton Persona Compact Spectrum has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.8% across 663 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Proton Persona Compact Spectrum are steering rack gaiter split (76 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (43), and stop lamp not working (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 Proton Persona Compact Spectrum owner drives around 5,608 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 Spectrum models stay on UK roads for around 27 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.

Proton Persona Compact Spectrum — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Proton Persona Compact Spectrum reliable?
Based on 663 MOT tests, the Proton Persona Compact Spectrum has a 65.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Proton Persona Compact Spectrum?
The most common MOT failures are steering rack gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Proton Persona Compact Spectrum do per year?
The typical Proton Persona Compact Spectrum does around 5,608 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Proton Persona Compact Spectrum last?
Most Proton Persona Compact Spectrum models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 112 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Proton Persona Compact Spectrum?
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 Proton Persona Compact Spectrum?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Proton Persona Compact Spectrum is 1999 with a 65.7% pass rate across 467 tests.