Mitsubishi Space Star MOT pass rate & common failures
13,412 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Space Star (1995–2020) give it a 65.1% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the Space Star comes out 7.4pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.3%) and lighting & signalling (17.4%) 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, headlamp aim and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,129 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.2% in the 0-30k band and 40.2% in the 150k+ band, a 19.9-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 34.3% fail against 37.2% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 13,412 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Space Star model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 206 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 845 | 67.5% | 32.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 2,102 | 65.3% | 34.7% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 3,006 | 64.4% | 35.6% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 4,515 | 64.4% | 35.6% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 2,628 | 65.6% | 34.4% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 40 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.3% | 2,728 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 2,340 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.8% | 2,116 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 1,603 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.4% | 853 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 838 |
| 7 | Steering | 6.0% | 805 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 764 |
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 | 2,129 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,328 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 1,164 |
| 4 | Joints | 962 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 866 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 801 |
| 7 | Wipers | 772 |
| 8 | Track rod end | 658 |
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 | 42.9% | 5,757 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.5% | 5,293 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 4,124 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.1% | 2,826 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.6% | 2,769 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.4% | 1,792 |
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 | 287 | 20.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,576 | 28.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,761 | 35.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,484 | 37.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,624 | 40.4% |
| 150k+ | 670 | 40.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,658 | 34.3% |
| Diesel | 2,754 | 37.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,237 | 34.5% |
| 2022 | 3,269 | 35.2% |
| 2023 | 2,529 | 34.2% |
| 2024 | 1,942 | 35.7% |
| 2025 | 1,435 | 35.7% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Space Star
- Suspension (20.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi Space Star?
65.1% of the 13,412 Mitsubishi Space Star MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 34.9% fail rate, across model years 1995–2020.
What does the Mitsubishi Space Star most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 20.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (17.4%).
How much does mileage affect Space Star MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 40.2% for 150k+, a 19.9-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Space Star more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 34.3% of the time against 37.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,412 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.