2013 MITSUBISHI COLT1.1L PETROL

The Mitsubishi Colt passed its most recent MOT on 23 May 2026 at 140,994 miles, but the record reveals a worsening maintenance trend rather than a stable one. That test flagged front brake pads wearing thin, front brake discs worn and pitted on both inner faces, and parking brake efficiency only just meeting the legal threshold. A minor exhaust gas leak and a front oil leak at the engine were also noted. None of these are immediate failures, yet the combination points to a braking system that has been left at or near its wear limits for some time. The vehicle remains roadworthy today, but only just within tolerance. Mileage accumulation tells a clear story. Between the clean pass on 2 June 2023 at 82,922 miles and the clean pass on 20 May 2024 at 87,286 miles, the car covered roughly 4,364 miles in under twelve months. Then, between 20 May 2024 and 12 May 2025, it jumped to 100,693 miles, an increase of 13,407 miles in under a year. By the time of the May 2026 test, mileage had climbed to 140,994, a further 40,301 miles in just over twelve months. That final year alone represents nearly double the vehicle's long-term average of around 10,846 miles per year, placing significant additional stress on consumable and structural components alike. A buyer should pay close attention to the front braking system during any in-person inspection. The repeated advisories on worn and pitted front discs, combined with thin pads and marginal parking brake efficiency, suggest the braking assembly has been operating at or beyond its serviceable wear range. Check for uneven disc thickness, lipping at the disc edges, and caliper slider pin condition. The front oil leak noted in both 2025 and 2026 warrants investigation at the valve cover gasket or camshaft seal area, as even a minor seepage can degrade rubber hoses and contaminate brake components over time. The minor exhaust gas leak appearing in three consecutive tests from 2025 onward is another area to examine, likely at a flexi-joint, manifold gasket, or a small crack in the downpipe. Both front shock absorbers were flagged in May 2025 as having reduced damping effect, meaning they may have been replaced before the 2026 test or were simply not flagged again. A physical check for bounce, uneven tyre wear, and damping consistency is advisable. At 140,994 miles with this service pattern, the car has been driven hard and maintained to a minimum standard rather than proactively.