2003 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Mitsubishi Pajero passed 75.0% of its 1,572 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 2.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (11.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and rear fog lamp — prescribed areas alone was recorded 133 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 23.9% versus 16.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 19.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 210 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 184 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 178 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.4% | 164 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 84 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.3% | 68 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 133 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 127 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 107 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 99 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 92 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 90 |
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 | 39.8% | 626 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.5% | 574 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.1% | 442 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 28.1% | 441 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.1% | 238 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.2% | 223 |
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 | 85 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 239 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 392 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 836 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,450 | 25.5% |
| Petrol | 122 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 483 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 409 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 312 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 204 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 164 | 19.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Pajero
On a 2003 Pajero, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.7% 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+.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 2003 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 1,572 2003 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.7%).
Does the 2003 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 60-90k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,572 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.