Mitsubishi 3000 MOT pass rate & common failures
1,974 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi 3000 (1990–2019) give it a 75.4% pass rate. That is 1.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.3%) and emissions & environmental (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 244 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.4% in the 0-30k band and 29.6% in the 150k+ band, a 14.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 3000 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 43 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Suspension |
| 1992 | 74 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 103 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 56 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 84 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 92 | 80.4% | 19.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 219 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1998 | 269 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Suspension |
| 1999 | 264 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2000 | 62 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 60 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2002 | 104 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 112 | 80.4% | 19.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 120 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 122 | 64.8% | 35.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 67 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 47 | 72.3% | 27.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 224 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 218 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 162 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 161 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.0% | 158 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 111 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.5% | 89 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.9% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 244 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 137 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 89 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 79 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 75 |
| 6 | Wipers | 74 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 73 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 71 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 32.9% | 650 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.4% | 502 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.4% | 403 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 308 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.3% | 282 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.0% | 257 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 39 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 212 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 601 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 607 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 318 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 196 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 485 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 422 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 383 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 342 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 342 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi 3000
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (8.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi 3000?
75.4% of the 1,974 Mitsubishi 3000 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.6% fail rate, across model years 1990–2019.
What does the Mitsubishi 3000 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, then emissions & environmental (11.0%).
How much does mileage affect 3000 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.6% for 150k+, a 14.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,974 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.