2010 Mitsubishi Colt 1.3L Petrol · YY10 OCG

The Mitsubishi Colt remains roadworthy as of its most recent MOT on 24 September 2025 at 122,001 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. That pass was heavily loaded with advisories, including a severely deteriorated offside front CV boot, slight play in the offside front suspension arm ball joint, an oil leak, worn rear axle swivel pins and bushes, minor exhaust leakage, and multiple corrosion advisories on the sills, front sub-frame, and front Macpherson strut mountings. The tester also flagged corrosion on the rear axle. A clean pass in September 2024 with zero defects makes this sudden cluster of issues more concerning, suggesting the car may have been left standing or poorly maintained in the twelve months leading up to the 2025 test. The mileage pattern is broadly consistent with typical use for a 2010 vehicle, averaging roughly 7,600 miles per year. The record shows a gap of about 6,800 miles between September 2023 at 112,361 miles and September 2024 at 119,142 miles, then a further 2,859 miles to the September 2025 test. There are no alarming jumps or suspiciously low annual increases, though the relatively modest mileage in recent years could indicate periods of inactivity, which often accelerates corrosion on suspension components, brake seals, and rubber boots. A buyer should inspect the offside front CV joint and boot carefully, as a severely deteriorated boot typically means grease has been thrown out and dirt has entered, making joint failure likely without replacement. The slight play in the offside front suspension arm ball joint warrants checking for related wear on the track rod ends and wishbone bushes. The fractured offside rear coil spring from the 2024 failure should have been replaced, but the rear axle corrosion advisory in 2025 suggests the underside has been neglected. Have a garage put the car on a lift and examine both sills, the front sub-frame, and the Macpherson strut tops for corrosion depth, particularly around spot welds and drain holes. The minor exhaust leak and oil leak should be traced to their source, as both can worsen quickly if left unattended. Tyre condition and tread depth should be checked given the 2023 failure for bald fronts, which hints at possible alignment or suspension geometry issues still present.