1994 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero passed 76.0% of its 413 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 23.6%, so the 1994 Pajero sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.3% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, component mounting prescribed areas and integral vehicle structure condition — chassis condition alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1994 Pajero fails 30.0% of the time in the 60-90k band and 27.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 45.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.4% in 2021 to 21.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 59 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 41 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.3% | 26 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 38 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 30 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 28 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 27 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 20 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 45.5% | 188 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.5% | 163 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 32.9% | 136 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.5% | 134 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 57 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.1% | 54 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 30 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 11.1% |
| 120-150k | 81 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 238 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 57 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 48 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 125 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 115 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Pajero
On a 1994 Pajero, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (9.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1994 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 413 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.1%).
Does the 1994 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.0% in the 60-90k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 413 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.