2002 Mitsubishi Space Wagon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Mitsubishi Space Wagon passed 68.0% of its 388 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2002 Space Wagon comes out 4.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 20.1% of tests against 15.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 56 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 39.5% versus 27.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 42.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.1% | 78 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 60 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 38 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.5% | 37 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 30 |
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 | 56 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 24 |
| 6 | Wipers | 23 |
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 | 42.5% | 165 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.4% | 145 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 27.8% | 108 |
| 4 | Tyres | 27.3% | 106 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.9% | 89 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 72 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 94 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 129 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 105 | 37.1% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 39.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 32.5% |
| 2022 | 95 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 77 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 56 | 35.7% |
| 2025 | 46 | 32.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Space Wagon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.1% 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 (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Space Wagons pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 388 2002 Mitsubishi Space Wagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Mitsubishi Space Wagon?
Suspension, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.5%).
Does the 2002 Space Wagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.7% in the 60-90k band to 39.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 388 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.