Mitsubishi I
Registered from 2003 to 2012.
About this model
The Mitsubishi i is a kei car from automaker Mitsubishi Motors, first released in January 2006, twenty eight months after its debut at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the first four-door automobile since the 1960s to employ a "rear midship" setup with the engine behind the passengers, in an attempt to improve safety and interior space without enlarging the overall exterior.
From the Wikipedia article Mitsubishi i, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2008 0.7 petrol. 38 of 178 tests failed, 21%.
Better than 75% of 2008 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 922 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 42% | 16 |
| Suspension | 32% | 12 |
| Brakes | 29% | 11 |
| Body and structure | 24% | 9 |
| Tyres and wheels | 21% | 8 |
| Steering | 18% | 7 |
The defects inspectors cite
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 32% 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 spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Brakes — 29% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Tyres and wheels — 21% of its failures
- Steering — 18% of its failures
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Lights and electrics — 42% of its failures
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 24% 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
When it starts failing
At 60–80k miles this one fails 32% of its inspections, against the 24% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 6% | 16% | 33 | |
| 40–60k miles | 25% | 20% | 52 | |
| 60–80k miles | 32% | 24% | 37 |
122 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/1301/15
The passenger side airbag inflator might release fragments during deployment which could injure the passenger.
Recall of the product from end users