1997 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Mitsubishi Shogun passed 75.8% of its 1,824 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 1997 Shogun sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (12.6%) and lighting & signalling (11.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, prescribed areas and component mounting prescribed areas — chassis condition alone was recorded 205 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.3% versus 10.8%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 23.7% of the time against 25.1% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.6% in 2021 to 22.1% 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 | 12.6% | 229 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 213 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 197 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 172 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 96 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 86 |
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 | 205 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 167 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 133 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 126 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 88 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 86 |
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 | 40.4% | 736 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.7% | 706 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.5% | 557 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 29.7% | 541 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.1% | 311 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.8% | 252 |
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 | 37 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 238 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 478 | 23.0% |
| 120-150k | 463 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 604 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,211 | 23.7% |
| Petrol | 613 | 25.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 516 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 431 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 346 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 282 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 249 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Shogun
On a 1997 Shogun, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.6% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
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 1997 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 1,824 1997 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.7%).
Does the 1997 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 30-60k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,824 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.