2002 Mitsubishi Galant — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Mitsubishi Galant passed 71.7% of its 389 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.4%) and lighting & signalling (13.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and ball joint — headlamp aim alone was recorded 32 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.4% in the 30-60k band and 32.6% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.6% in 2021 to 26.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.4% | 60 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 53 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 38 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 24 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 19 |
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 | 32 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 25 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 23 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 17 |
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 | 43.4% | 169 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.2% | 137 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.3% | 110 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.6% | 84 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 21.3% | 83 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.2% | 63 |
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 | 39 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 88 | 29.5% |
| 90-120k | 135 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 77 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 105 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 90 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 85 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 57 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 52 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Galant
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.4% 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 (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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 2002 Mitsubishi Galants pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 389 2002 Mitsubishi Galant MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant?
Suspension, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.6%).
Does the 2002 Galant get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 30-60k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 389 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.