2005 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero passed 76.6% of its 1,906 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 4.2pp 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 (12.5%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 144 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.3% versus 12.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.0% in 2021 to 17.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 238 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 233 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 195 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.7% | 185 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.4% | 84 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.8% | 73 |
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 | 144 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 130 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 128 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 118 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 111 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 81 |
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 | 39.0% | 743 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.7% | 699 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.8% | 510 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.9% | 493 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.7% | 261 |
| 6 | Tyres | 12.3% | 235 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 47 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 157 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 276 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 494 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 915 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,751 | 23.4% |
| Petrol | 155 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 577 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 481 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 398 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 249 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 201 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Pajero
On a 2005 Pajero, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.2% 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 (10.2% 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 2005 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 1,906 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.2%).
Does the 2005 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 30-60k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,906 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.