Mitsubishi FTO
Registered from 1995 to 2009.
About this model
The Mitsubishi FTO is a front-engined, front-wheel drive sport compact car produced by Mitsubishi Motors between 1994 and 2000. Originally planned exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, its popularity as a grey market import to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand led to eventual limited distribution through Mitsubishi's official dealers in those regions at the tail-end of production. Upon its debut it won the Car of the Year Japan award for 1994–1995, commemorated by a Limited Edition of the FTO GPX model.
From the Wikipedia article Mitsubishi FTO, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2000 2.0 petrol. 16 of 54 tests failed, 30%.
Better than 28% of 2000 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 390 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 69% | 11 |
| Suspension | 50% | 8 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 44% | 7 |
| Body and structure | 19% | 3 |
| Lights and electrics | 19% | 3 |
| Steering | 13% | 2 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 99% of 2000 cars — 69% of its 16 failed tests, where an ordinary 2000 car has 38%.
- Exhaust and emissions: failed more often than 91% of 2000 cars — 44% of its 16 failed tests, where an ordinary 2000 car has 19%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 69% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Suspension — 50% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Exhaust and emissions — 44% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Steering — 13% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 19% of its failures
- Body and structure — 19% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired