2004 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,142 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 76.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 293 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 266 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 222 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.8% | 211 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 100 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 98 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 175 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 174 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 160 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 131 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 123 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 113 |
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 | 39.7% | 850 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.2% | 839 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 31.5% | 674 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 29.8% | 638 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.7% | 337 |
| 6 | Steering | 14.4% | 308 |
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 | 182 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 329 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 505 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,096 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,018 | 23.8% |
| Petrol | 124 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 661 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 548 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 445 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 271 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 217 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Pajero
Before buying a 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.4% 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 (10.4% 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 2004 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 2,142 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.4%).
Does the 2004 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.7% in the 60-90k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,142 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.