1998 Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8L Petrol · R557 AVR
1998 Mitsubishi Carisma (1.8L, petrol). First registered 21 Jan 1998. Recorded mileage 170,235 miles. MOT expired on 08 Jun 2025.
- Make & Model
- MITSUBISHI CARISMA
- Year / Origin
- 1998 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 08 Jun 2025
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 170,235 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 1.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
R557 AVR Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT failed on 27/05/2025
- 170,235 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 3 historical MOT failures
- 10 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (4 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R557 AVR MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
5 MOT tests are recorded for this 1998 Mitsubishi Carisma (R557 AVR) between May 2023 and May 2025.
The record contains 2 passes and 3 failures.
The most recent test on 27 May 2025 was a fail; the vehicle has not passed its last recorded MOT.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (4 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (4 issues), Tyres (3 issues), Suspension (1 issue), Lighting (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 13 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Nearside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a bo”; “Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))”; “Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))”.
R557 AVR Mileage History
- 26/05/2023167,089 mi
- 30/05/2023167,090 mi+1 mi
- 20/05/2024168,623 mi+1,533 mi
- 22/05/2024168,653 mi+30 mi
- 27/05/2025170,235 mi+1,582 mi
Average of roughly 1,570 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
Estimate current market value
Generate an instant valuation benchmark based on live market listings, vehicle mileage, and recent dealer auction figures.
Known faults for Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Carisma
Our database tracks 3 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Poor
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Common Problems: MITSUBISHI CARISMA
Known issues reported by owners and MOT testers.
- Corroded brake pipes(Moderate)
Corroded brake pipes are the most common MOT advisory on the UK Carisma fleet, recorded on 35.3% of all tests in one DVSA-data analysis, with a further 7.0% of tests carrying structural-corrosion notes. Salt and water corrode the thin-walled pipes, especially at the rear axle, and a badly corroded or burst pipe means loss of a brake circuit - an MOT failure and a serious safety issue. Sticking rear brake callipers, which squeal even with the pedal released, are another known Carisma brake complaint. These are now 20-year-old cars: assume nothing about the brake system until you have seen it.
- Structural corrosion of sills and subframes(Serious)
DVSA-based analysis records corrosion and structure as the clearest problem area for the Carisma, with 86.5 structural notes per 100 MOT tests and wording such as 'prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength'. Sills, subframes and mounting points rot from the inside out, and corrosion near seat-belt anchorages is an immediate MOT failure. Surface rust is cosmetic; perforated sills or a soft subframe are expensive to weld and can make the car uneconomic. Any Carisma bought without a recent underside inspection is a gamble.
- Carbon build-up on the 1.8 GDI engine(Moderate)
The 1.8-litre GDI direct-injection petrol was designed for superunleaded; on ordinary fuel it builds carbon in the throttle body and combustion chambers, causing erratic idle, misfiring and lack of power, and What Car? warns of engine-failure risk around 60,000 miles if ignored. BreakerYard lists blocked GDI throttle bodies as a known Carisma fault, curable by cleaning the throttle body, while neglected examples can need far more extensive work. Ask which fuel the seller used and listen for a lumpy idle when cold.
Similar Vehicles
Similar Vehicles Checked Recently
Plate Neighbors
Batch Registration Neighbors (R557 Series)
Vehicles registered in the same regional DVLA batch as R557AVR.
MG
MGF
BMW
316
VOLVO
V40
VOLKSWAGEN
TRANSPORTER
VAUXHALL
CORSA
KAWASAKI
ZX6
MAZDA
MX-5
MITSUBISHI
SHOGUN
HONDA
XR400
MORGAN
ROADSTER
APRILIA
HONDA
GL1500
MITSUBISHI CARISMA Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1998 model year cars.
- Corroded brake pipesModerate
Corroded brake pipes are the most common MOT advisory on the UK Carisma fleet, recorded on 35.3% of all tests in one DVSA-data analysis, with a further 7.0% of tests carrying structural-corrosion notes. Salt and water corrode the thin-walled pipes, especially at the rear axle, and a badly corroded or burst pipe means loss of a brake circuit - an MOT failure and a serious safety issue. Sticking rear brake callipers, which squeal even with the pedal released, are another known Carisma brake complaint. These are now 20-year-old cars: assume nothing about the brake system until you have seen it.
- Structural corrosion of sills and subframesSerious
DVSA-based analysis records corrosion and structure as the clearest problem area for the Carisma, with 86.5 structural notes per 100 MOT tests and wording such as 'prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength'. Sills, subframes and mounting points rot from the inside out, and corrosion near seat-belt anchorages is an immediate MOT failure. Surface rust is cosmetic; perforated sills or a soft subframe are expensive to weld and can make the car uneconomic. Any Carisma bought without a recent underside inspection is a gamble.
- Carbon build-up on the 1.8 GDI engineModerate
The 1.8-litre GDI direct-injection petrol was designed for superunleaded; on ordinary fuel it builds carbon in the throttle body and combustion chambers, causing erratic idle, misfiring and lack of power, and What Car? warns of engine-failure risk around 60,000 miles if ignored. BreakerYard lists blocked GDI throttle bodies as a known Carisma fault, curable by cleaning the throttle body, while neglected examples can need far more extensive work. Ask which fuel the seller used and listen for a lumpy idle when cold.
Regional DVLA Registration Directory
Vehicles and registration batches issued by regional DVLA offices across the UK.
Recently Checked UK Vehicles
Live vehicle history checks and MOT records recently queried by UK car buyers.