Mitsubishi
Colt
41,987 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Colts pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 13.0 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
64.5%
Pass-after-fix
7.9%
Fail
27.0%
Avg miles
85,600
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Mitsubishi Colt: challenging MOT record across 33,643 tests
The Mitsubishi Colt is a nameplate from Mitsubishi Motors that has been applied to a number of automobiles since 1962. It was first introduced with a series of subcompact cars in the 1960s, and then for the export version of the subcompact Mirage between 1978 and 2002.
MOT data from 33,643 tests puts this car on a 65.5% first-time pass rate, well below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 82,718 miles. The most common fail item is suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, followed by steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated.
The Colt's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 6–14
A low-group car — among the cheapest to insure in the UK. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
6–14
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
Filter failures:
Hide categories
Tick a category to hide it from rankings sitewide. Saved in this browser only.
- 01
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
3,693 occurrences · 8.8% of tests
- 02
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
2,687 occurrences · 6.4% of tests
- 03
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
1,927 occurrences · 4.6% of tests
- 04
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
1,663 occurrences · 4.0% of tests
- 05
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
1,583 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
- 06
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
1,532 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 07
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
1,511 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
1,371 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
- 09
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
1,150 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 10
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
1,067 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£178–£595
If every one of this Colt's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Motor World
Motor World Mitsubishi Colt 2004- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab 88-2005- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Mitsubishi L200 4 Work Club Cab 2006- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab 2006-2015 L/Rears Warrior Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
7 UK recalls on record.
The Colt has 7 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Colt?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Colt and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.