Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin MOT pass rate & common failures
11,138 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin (1980–2016) give it a 68.7% pass rate. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.6%) and suspension (16.6%) 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, position lamp and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 3,153 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.4% versus 18.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Shogun Pinin model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 500 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 1,274 | 68.5% | 31.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 1,210 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 1,762 | 67.3% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 2,273 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 3,175 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 883 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.6% | 1,964 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.6% | 1,846 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 1,360 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 1,340 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 1,061 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.4% | 603 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.1% | 562 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.2% | 352 |
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 | 3,153 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,044 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 929 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 846 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 828 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 784 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 672 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 652 |
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 | 39.1% | 4,360 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.9% | 4,110 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.6% | 2,736 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.2% | 2,361 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 1,800 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.4% | 1,605 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 276 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,177 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,307 | 31.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,242 | 33.8% |
| 120-150k | 891 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 225 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,060 | 31.3% |
| Diesel | 78 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,424 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 2,682 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 2,127 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 1,635 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 1,270 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin
- Lighting & signalling (17.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.6% 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.
- Brakes (12.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin?
68.7% of the 11,138 Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 31.3% fail rate, across model years 1980–2016.
What does the Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.6% of tests, then suspension (16.6%).
How much does mileage affect Shogun Pinin MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 36.4% for 150k+, a 18.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,138 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.