1999 Mitsubishi Carisma — MOT failures & pass rate
260 MOT tests on the 1999 Mitsubishi Carisma are in this dataset, and 75.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.5% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rigid brake pipes and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 54 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.4% in the 30-60k band and 27.0% in the 120-150k band, a 11.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 43 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 33 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 21 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 13 |
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 | 54 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 13 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 6 | Wipers | 11 |
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 | 31.1% | 81 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.8% | 67 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.6% | 64 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 35 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.3% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 30 |
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 | 39 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 64 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 55 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 43 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 41 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 35 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Carisma
On a 1999 Carisma, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (12.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (8.1% 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 Carismas pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 260 1999 Mitsubishi Carisma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mitsubishi Carisma?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (12.7%).
Does the 1999 Carisma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 30-60k band to 27.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 260 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.