Mitsubishi Space Wagon MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mitsubishi Space Wagon appears in 1,542 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–2016, and 68.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 5.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.3%) and lighting & signalling (16.0%) 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, catalyst emissions and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 263 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.5% in the 30-60k band and 36.8% in the 150k+ band, a 18.4-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Space Wagon model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 30 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1995 | 37 | 56.8% | 43.2% | Suspension |
| 1996 | 52 | 63.5% | 36.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 109 | 65.1% | 34.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 63 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 83 | 66.3% | 33.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2000 | 86 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 147 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 388 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 366 | 66.4% | 33.6% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 54 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 35 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.3% | 282 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 246 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 159 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.0% | 154 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 138 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.7% | 134 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.4% | 83 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.6% | 55 |
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 | 263 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 146 |
| 3 | Wipers | 107 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 105 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 87 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 64 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 62 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 61 |
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 | 38.7% | 597 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.4% | 531 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.9% | 430 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.3% | 375 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 332 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 20.9% | 322 |
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 | 92 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 28.8% |
| 90-120k | 545 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 309 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 228 | 36.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,405 | 31.8% |
| Diesel | 137 | 34.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 549 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 374 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 265 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 195 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 159 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Space Wagon
- Suspension (18.3% 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 (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.3% 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 Wagon?
68.0% of the 1,542 Mitsubishi Space Wagon MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 32.0% fail rate, across model years 1989–2016.
What does the Mitsubishi Space Wagon most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 18.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (16.0%).
How much does mileage affect Space Wagon MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.5% for cars in the 30-60k band and 36.8% for 150k+, a 18.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,542 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.