2001 Mitsubishi Carisma — MOT failures & pass rate
312 MOT tests on the 2001 Mitsubishi Carisma are in this dataset, and 68.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), the 2001 Carisma comes out 4.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.9%) and suspension (15.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 42 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 38.9% versus 25.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 27.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 56 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.1% | 47 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.7% | 46 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 27 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 23 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.4% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 42 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 33 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 25 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Joints | 19 |
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 | 38.8% | 121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.3% | 110 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.1% | 97 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.4% | 76 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 64 |
| 6 | Other defects | 20.5% | 64 |
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 | 32 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 29.5% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 36.4% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 38.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 70 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 50 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 42 | 38.1% |
| 2025 | 36 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Carisma
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.1% 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 (14.7% 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 2001 Mitsubishi Carismas pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 312 2001 Mitsubishi Carisma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mitsubishi Carisma?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by suspension (15.1%).
Does the 2001 Carisma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 38.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 312 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.