2000 Mitsubishi Carisma — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma passed 71.2% of its 378 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.3% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 54 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.7% in the 30-60k band and 32.3% in the 150k+ band, a 9.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.0% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 58 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 45 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 35 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 34 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 31 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.1% | 27 |
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 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 22 |
| 5 | Wipers | 21 |
| 6 | Joints | 20 |
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 | 36.2% | 137 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 105 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 26.7% | 101 |
| 4 | Suspension | 25.9% | 98 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.5% | 55 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 42 |
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 | 88 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 120 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 93 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 36.6% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 142 | 31.0% |
| 2022 | 94 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 59 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 47 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 36 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Carisma
On a 2000 Carisma, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Suspension (9.3% 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.
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 2000 Mitsubishi Carismas pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 378 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Mitsubishi Carisma?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 2000 Carisma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 30-60k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 378 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.