Mitsubishi Carisma MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Mitsubishi Carisma MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Mitsubishi Carisma passed on its first attempt in 58.3%, and its overall record sits −12.3 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Mitsubishi Carisma in the 2023–2025 data: 2,495 tests across 5 model years (2000–2004). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Mitsubishi Carisma MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Mitsubishi Carisma, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Mitsubishi Carisma's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Mitsubishi Carisma DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Mitsubishi Carisma, each with how many of the model's 2,495 tests it was noted on.

• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 206 Mitsubishi Carisma tests, 8.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 192 Mitsubishi Carisma tests, 7.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 147 Mitsubishi Carisma tests, 5.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Joints constant velocity boot severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 133 Mitsubishi Carisma tests, 5.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements" (Major) — noted on about 115 Mitsubishi Carisma tests, 4.6% of the model's MOT record.
• "Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (Major) — noted on about 108 Mitsubishi Carisma tests, 4.3% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Mitsubishi Carisma Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Mitsubishi Carisma model year on record is 2000 (73.9% across 142 tests), and the weakest is 2003 (67.6%). The gap between them is 6.3 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Mitsubishi Carisma reliability is declining in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 1.1 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Mitsubishi Carisma Owners

These checks follow this Mitsubishi Carisma's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Mitsubishi Carisma.

• the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”

  With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

• the lights — “headlamp lens slightly defective”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Mitsubishi Carisma. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mitsubishi Carisma MOT & Reliability