1999 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 341 MOT tests, the 1999 Mitsubishi Pajero recorded an 80.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 1999 Pajero comes out 6.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (10.0%) 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, prescribed areas and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 37 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Pajero fails 19.1% of the time in the 90-120k band and 21.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.6% in 2021 to 15.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 35 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 34 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 27 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 20 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 15 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 11 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 25 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 16 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 15 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 13 |
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 | 34.0% | 116 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.0% | 99 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.1% | 96 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 52 |
| 5 | Steering | 14.4% | 49 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 47 |
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 | 68 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 71 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 148 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 234 | 20.9% |
| Petrol | 107 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88 | 21.6% |
| 2022 | 80 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 59 | 27.1% |
| 2024 | 57 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 57 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Pajero
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.0% 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 (7.9% 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 1999 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 341 1999 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.0%).
Does the 1999 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 90-120k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 341 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.