Mitsubishi Delica MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 36 model years and 9,121 tests, the Mitsubishi Delica passes its MOT 70.7% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (23.0% fail rate), the Delica comes out 6.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.5%) and suspension (14.3%) 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, rear fog lamp and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,151 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 29.0% in the 0-30k band and 34.2% in the 150k+ band, a 5.2-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.8pp more often than petrol ones (32.7% vs 25.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.2% in 2021 to 28.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Delica model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 173 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Suspension |
| 1995 | 190 | 63.7% | 36.3% | Suspension |
| 1996 | 201 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 130 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 66 | 68.2% | 31.8% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 113 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 129 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 179 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 335 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 643 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 902 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 1,140 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 820 | 66.0% | 34.0% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 681 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 408 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 188 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 221 | 76.9% | 23.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 80 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 98 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 114 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 125 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 338 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 367 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 355 | 71.5% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 319 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 337 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 249 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 140 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 1,413 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 1,303 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 1,006 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 1,003 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.2% | 658 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.2% | 653 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 333 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.2% | 198 |
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 | 1,151 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 685 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 516 |
| 4 | Joints | 508 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 479 |
| 6 | Wipers | 445 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 435 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 426 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.4% | 3,044 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.4% | 2,590 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.0% | 1,918 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 1,510 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.2% | 1,292 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.0% | 1,279 |
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 | 148 | 29.0% |
| 30-60k | 569 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,788 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,956 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,648 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,825 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,564 | 25.9% |
| Diesel | 4,547 | 32.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,089 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 1,944 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 1,809 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 1,696 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 1,583 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Delica
- Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.3% 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.
- Brakes (11.0% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi Delica?
70.7% of the 9,121 Mitsubishi Delica MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.3% fail rate, across model years 1988–2023.
What does the Mitsubishi Delica most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests, then suspension (14.3%).
How much does mileage affect Delica MOT results?
Fail rates run at 29.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 34.2% for 150k+, a 5.2-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Delica more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 25.9% of the time against 32.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,121 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.