1999 Mitsubishi 3000 — MOT failures & pass rate
264 MOT tests on the 1999 Mitsubishi 3000 are in this dataset, and 76.5% of them passed. That is 2.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (9.5%) and suspension (8.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.6% once past 120-150k — 4.7× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 25 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 22 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 15 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 14 |
| 4 | Wipers | 13 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions not tested | 9 |
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 | 28.8% | 76 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.4% | 59 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 43 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.8% | 39 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 34 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.5% | 33 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 33 | 6.1% |
| 60-90k | 104 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 60 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 62 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 46 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 50 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 45 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 3000
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (9.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (8.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (8.3% 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
How many 1999 Mitsubishi 3000s pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 264 1999 Mitsubishi 3000 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mitsubishi 3000?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by suspension (8.7%).
Does the 1999 3000 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 30-60k band to 28.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264 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.