1994 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Mitsubishi Shogun passed 75.7% of its 506 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (23.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (13.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and service brake performance — prescribed areas alone was recorded 52 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1994 Shogun fails 27.8% of the time in the 60-90k band and 24.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.1% in 2021 to 18.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 70 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.6% | 69 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 47 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.9% | 40 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.7% | 24 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 24 |
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 | 52 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 42 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 34 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 33 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 26 |
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 | 43.3% | 219 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.4% | 189 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.6% | 165 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.1% | 127 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.6% | 79 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.4% | 68 |
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 | 54 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 97 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 107 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 233 | 24.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 389 | 22.9% |
| Petrol | 117 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 106 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 78 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 107 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 76 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Shogun
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.6% 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 (9.3% 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 1994 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 506 1994 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (13.6%).
Does the 1994 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.8% in the 60-90k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 506 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.