2016 Mitsubishi Mirage 1.2L Petrol · LC16 WDF

The Mitsubishi Mirage presents a stable and improving mechanical picture as of its most recent test. On 22 May 2026 at 44,295 miles, the vehicle passed with zero defects recorded, a clean sweep that contrasts sharply with the failures seen in previous years. The maintenance trend is clearly resolving. A pattern of suspension and braking faults that plagued the car through late 2024 and early 2025 has been addressed, with no recurring defects appearing in the latest two consecutive passes. This suggests a previous owner invested in corrective work rather than simply retesting and hoping for the best. The mileage profile tells its own story. At roughly 4,430 miles per year over a decade, this Mirage has led a remarkably light life. The recorded intervals show consistent but modest use: 39,460 miles in November 2024, 43,385 miles by November 2025, and 44,295 miles in May 2026. That is an accumulation of just 910 miles over the most recent seven-month window, indicating either very short daily commutes or periods of sitting idle. Low mileage in itself is not a guarantee of condition, and prolonged standing can introduce its own concerns around dried seals, flat-spotted tyres, and moisture ingress into brake and suspension components, but the MOT record shows no evidence of those issues materialising into failures. The history does, however, flag specific areas a buyer should verify in person. The November 2025 failure recorded front inner brake pads wearing thin alongside a light oil misting on the nearside rear shock absorber. Both were rectified before the retest four days later, but worn pads and weeping dampers within months of a clean pass suggest either aggressive recent use or a batch of parts that may not have a long service life ahead. Inspect the front brake pad thickness and the nearside rear shock absorber body for fresh oil residue. The November 2024 failure for a corroded offside front coil spring is more concerning from a structural standpoint. While that specific spring was replaced, corrosion on one coil spring often signals environmental exposure that may have affected the opposite side and mounting points. A close visual inspection of both front coil springs, their top and bottom seats, and the surrounding strut towers for pitting or surface corrosion is advisable. Finally, the repeated TPMS malfunction advisories appearing in both November 2024 and November 2025 tests, though not flagged in the most recent pass, point to a sensor or module issue that may have been temporarily resolved rather than permanently fixed. Check the TPMS warning light on the dashboard during a cold start and confirm all four tyre pressure sensors are communicating. Combined with the central rear seat belt fault from late 2024, which was also rectified, the record shows a car that had several minor but persistent electrical and safety system niggles. None of these are dealbreakers given the clean 2026 result, but a hands-on check of the rear seat belt retraction mechanism and a live TPMS scan with a diagnostic tool would provide final confidence.