City car · 1999–2020 cars
Mitsubishi Space Star reliability
The Mitsubishi Space Star fails 55% of first MOT tests, 34% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 6,088 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Mitsubishi Space Star before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 55%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 34% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 6,088
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Mitsubishi Space Star ages
Each point is the share of Mitsubishi Space Stars of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Mitsubishi Space Star | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 54.2% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 55.8% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 53.8% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 57.2% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 55.6% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 53.3% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 53.1% | 40.6% |
By year
The best and worst Mitsubishi Space Star years
2005 cars come out best and 2003 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Space Star | 1,215 | 54.1% | 31% more fails | 81,937 |
| 2004 Space Star | 2,066 | 56.3% | 36% more fails | 84,649 |
| 2003 Space Star | 1,348 | 56.7% | 37% more fails | 87,714 |
| 2002 | 956 | 54% | 33% more fails | 82,570 |
| 2001 | 371 | 52% | 31% more fails | 81,093 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Mitsubishi Space Star
Its weak spot is steering: 143% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension29.1%93% above avg
- Lights and electrics24.9%27% above avg
- Brakes22.1%80% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure17%104% above avg
- Tyres8.7%41% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.7%17% above avg
- Steering8.5%143% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks8%20% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.5%32% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 11.19% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 2
CV joint boot split or insecure 7.42% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 6.34% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 5.45% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 5.39% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 6
Position lamp not working 4.91% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 7
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 4.89% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 8
Anti-roll bar linkage pin/bush excessively worn 4.12% of tests
Worn linkage pins or bushes cause knocking and poor handling, and can get worse, so they need replacing.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Mitsubishi Space Star's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy18.92%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit17.53%
- Brake disc pitted or scored13.63%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking11.25%
- Brake pads wearing thin10.46%
- Suspension mounting area showing corrosion10.33%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Mitsubishi Space Star
- 1
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 2
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol79.7%
- Diesel20.3%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Grey, Black, Red
Average engine size: 1.6 litres.
Compare
How the Mitsubishi Space Star compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Perodua Myvi | 30.3% | 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Smart Fortwo Cabriolet | 33.5% | about average for its age |
| SEAT Arosa | 42.1% | 9% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 1007 | 41% | 11% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Abarth 595C | 15.1% | 16% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mitsubishi Space Star | 55% | 34% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Seicento | 46.7% | 35% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Mitsubishi models.
Questions
Mitsubishi Space Star questions, answered
Is the Mitsubishi Space Star reliable?
On MOT results, the Mitsubishi Space Star is well below average: it fails 55% of first MOT tests, 34% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 40 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Mitsubishi Space Star MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Mitsubishi Space Star are suspension mounting area seriously corroded (11.19% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (7.42% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (6.34% of tests). By area, suspension fails 29.1% of its tests.
Which Mitsubishi Space Star year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2005 cars do best (31% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2003 cars do worst (37% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Mitsubishi Space Star before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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