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Common problems by part

Mitsubishi Colt exhaust, emissions and leaks problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 15,452 MOT tests · Updated

At 15 years, 5.8 in 100 MOT tests of the Mitsubishi Colt failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 5.7 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 15,452 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 895 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 11 ages from 10 to 20 years, 93,891 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits, 2.6 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

5.8 fails per 100 MOT tests at 15 years, against 5.7 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 15 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

An exhaust, emissions and leaks fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

Mitsubishi Colt exhaust, emissions and leaks fails by age

Mitsubishi Colt exhaust, emissions and leaks fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Mitsubishi Colt. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.024610 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 2,075 MOT tests1011 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 3,783 MOT tests1112 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 6,454 MOT tests1213 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 10,089 MOT tests1314 years: 5.3 per 100 (all cars 5.1), 13,310 MOT tests1415 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 5.7), 15,452 MOT tests1516 years: 6.2 per 100 (all cars 6.2), 15,298 MOT tests1617 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 6.5), 12,674 MOT tests1718 years: 6.2 per 100 (all cars 6.8), 8,241 MOT tests1819 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 4,524 MOT tests1920 years: 6.5 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 1,991 MOT tests20
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Mitsubishi Colt All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
102,0751.62.8
113,7832.13.2
126,4542.63.7
1310,0893.54.3
1413,3105.35.1
1515,4525.85.7
1615,2986.26.2
1712,6746.66.5
188,2416.26.8
19*4,5246.67.0
20*1,9916.57.0

All first-use years of the Mitsubishi Colt pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the exhaust, emissions and leaks at 15 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Repair cost

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

How to check on a test drive

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive.

Check one Mitsubishi Colt, not the average

The figures here describe Mitsubishi Colt cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Mitsubishi Colt problems

Exhaust, emissions and leaks on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Mitsubishi Colt have more exhaust, emissions and leaks problems than other cars?

5.8 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years, against 5.7 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 15,452 MOT tests).

How common are Mitsubishi Colt exhaust, emissions and leaks problems?

5.8 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 5.7 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 15,452 MOT tests).

What is the most common Mitsubishi Colt exhaust, emissions and leaks fail?

2.6 in 100 MOT tests at 15 years: Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (408 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 93,891 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare