1995 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 417 MOT tests, the 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero recorded a 78.2% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (12.7%) and lighting & signalling (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, prescribed areas and integral vehicle structure condition — chassis condition alone was recorded 42 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.2% in the 90-120k band and 27.3% in the 150k+ band, a 14.1-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.6% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 53 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 49 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 44 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.4% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.2% | 26 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 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 | 42 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 33 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 24 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 20 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 18 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 18 |
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 | 42.0% | 175 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.3% | 164 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.1% | 134 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 28.5% | 119 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.6% | 69 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 76 | 13.2% |
| 120-150k | 71 | 16.9% |
| 150k+ | 231 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 61 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 48 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 120 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 111 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Pajero
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.7% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1995 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 417 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 1995 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 90-120k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 417 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.