2007 Mitsubishi Delica — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Mitsubishi Delica passed 77.1% of its 681 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.4%) and lighting & signalling (10.4%) 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 rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 82 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.4% in the 30-60k band and 30.9% in the 150k+ band, a 8.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.9% in 2021 to 23.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 91 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 71 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 55 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 45 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.7% | 32 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 28 |
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 | 82 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 46 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 37 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 30 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 27 |
| 6 | Joints | 26 |
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 | 29.2% | 199 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.1% | 157 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 86 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 81 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 80 |
| 6 | Tyres | 11.2% | 76 |
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 | 85 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 166 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 146 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 96 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 175 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 395 | 16.7% |
| Diesel | 286 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 131 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 148 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 137 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 136 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 129 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Delica
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.4% 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 (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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 2007 Mitsubishi Delicas pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 681 2007 Mitsubishi Delica MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Mitsubishi Delica?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.4%).
Does the 2007 Delica get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.4% in the 30-60k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 681 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.