Used car guide · 2000–2005

Mitsubishi Space Star common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mitsubishi Space Star, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 4,257 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

4,257MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
1,747on the UK register

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

200520042003200220012000

What usually goes wrong with a Mitsubishi Space Star?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mitsubishi Space Star in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mitsubishi Space Star MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 7.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Headlights

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2005.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Brake pads

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002 and 2004.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

Mitsubishi Space Star MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200546%57% -11888
200445%57% -121,486
200345%57% -12964
200247%58% -11647
200150%60% -10272 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mitsubishi Space Star

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 7.9× as often on the Mitsubishi Space Star as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the Mitsubishi Space Star as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Mitsubishi Space Star as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi Space Star?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score