2012 Mitsubishi Colt 1.3L Petrol · EX62 WBT

The 2012 Mitsubishi Colt’s most recent MOT test on 2025-09-12 confirms it passed with no defects, though it had narrowly failed the previous test just one day earlier due to a critical tyre failure—exposed ply on the offside front tyre. This suggests a pattern of deferred maintenance, particularly with tyres, rather than a sudden mechanical failure. The 2023 test revealed widespread tyre cracking across all four positions, indicating long-term neglect of rubber degradation, while the 2022 test documented general tyre perishing. While the vehicle cleared its 2024 and 2025 tests without further faults, the recurring tyre issues imply a lack of proactive replacement, which could escalate into a safety risk if not addressed immediately. The recorded mileage of 14,724 miles over nearly 14 years—averaging just 1,052 miles annually—is unusually low for a vehicle of this age, raising questions about its storage conditions or usage history. The gap between the 2022 (7,533 miles) and 2023 (7,599 miles) tests suggests a period of inactivity, during which tyre degradation likely accelerated due to prolonged static loading. The subsequent mileage accumulation between 2023 and 2025 (7,599 to 14,724 miles) indicates recent use, but the failure in 2025-09-11—just two days before passing—highlights that even low-mileage vehicles can suffer from critical wear when maintenance is overlooked. A buyer should prioritise an immediate visual and tactile inspection of all four tyres, focusing on tread depth, sidewall integrity, and any signs of embedded debris or uneven wear. The 2023 advisories for cracking and the 2025 failure point to a need for full tyre replacement, as compromised rubber cannot be reliably restored. Suspension components, particularly bushes and coil springs, should be checked for corrosion or excessive play, given the vehicle’s age and the lack of documented suspension faults in past tests. The brakes were not flagged in recent tests, but the 2025 failure suggests the tester may have overlooked binding or uneven wear—calipers, pads, and discs warrant thorough inspection for heat damage or uneven thickness. Structural corrosion, particularly around wheel arches and sills, should also be assessed, as rust can compromise the vehicle’s integrity over time.