1998 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero passed 82.8% of its 267 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and suspension (9.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Pajero fails 19.2% of the time in the 60-90k band and 22.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.6% in 2021 to 18.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 31 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 24 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 20 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 19 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 10 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 15 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 12 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 11 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.8% | 93 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.0% | 88 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 51 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 43 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.0% | 40 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.4% | 33 |
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 | 52 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 46 | 10.9% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 137 | 21.9% |
| Petrol | 130 | 12.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 56 | 7.1% |
| 2023 | 52 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 50 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 48 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Pajero
On a 1998 Pajero, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.5% 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+.
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 1998 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 267 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 1998 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 60-90k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 267 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.