2006 Mitsubishi Pajero — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,011 MOT tests, the 2006 Mitsubishi Pajero recorded a 76.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 3.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (12.0%) and lighting & signalling (11.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, rigid brake pipes and component mounting prescribed areas — chassis condition alone was recorded 76 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.5% in the 60-90k band and 28.0% in the 150k+ band, a 14.6-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.3% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 121 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 112 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.9% | 100 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 97 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 47 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.5% | 45 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 76 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 70 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 59 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 58 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 55 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 48 |
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 | 37.3% | 377 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.8% | 362 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.1% | 274 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.6% | 259 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.3% | 134 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.2% | 123 |
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 | 104 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 196 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 224 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 460 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 922 | 24.7% |
| Petrol | 89 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 288 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 257 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 204 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 146 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 116 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Pajero
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.0% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.9% 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 2006 Mitsubishi Pajeros pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 1,011 2006 Mitsubishi Pajero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Mitsubishi Pajero?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.1%).
Does the 2006 Pajero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 60-90k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,011 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.