2004 Mitsubishi Carisma — MOT failures & pass rate
1,866 MOT tests on the 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma are in this dataset, and 67.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Carisma comes out 4.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.7%) and lighting & signalling (17.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 191 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 38.0% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (33.8% vs 31.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.4% in 2021 to 28.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.7% | 330 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 326 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.4% | 325 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 126 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.7% | 125 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.7% | 107 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 191 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 159 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 138 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 127 |
| 5 | Joints | 102 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 94 |
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 | 41.6% | 776 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.0% | 728 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.5% | 550 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.9% | 408 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 403 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.9% | 296 |
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 | 45 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 187 | 27.3% |
| 60-90k | 473 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 529 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 348 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 284 | 38.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 938 | 33.8% |
| Petrol | 928 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 605 | 32.4% |
| 2022 | 467 | 35.3% |
| 2023 | 347 | 32.6% |
| 2024 | 261 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 186 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Carisma
On a 2004 Carisma, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.4% 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 2004 Mitsubishi Carismas pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 1,866 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mitsubishi Carisma?
Suspension, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.5%).
Does the 2004 Carisma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 38.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,866 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.