1998 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
2,783 MOT tests on the 1998 Mitsubishi Shogun are in this dataset, and 77.1% of them passed. That is 1.6 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, chassis condition and rigid brake pipes — prescribed areas alone was recorded 205 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 26.0% versus 15.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.0% of the time against 23.3% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.6% in 2021 to 23.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 373 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 337 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 271 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.6% | 266 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 157 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 141 |
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 | 205 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 198 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 162 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 161 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 151 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 146 |
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 | 41.9% | 1,166 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.2% | 1,118 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 31.8% | 884 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.0% | 808 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.2% | 424 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 389 |
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 | 89 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 371 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 633 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 725 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 958 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,797 | 23.3% |
| Petrol | 986 | 22.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 788 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 639 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 553 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 431 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 372 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Shogun
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.1% 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+.
- Suspension (9.7% 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 1998 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 2,783 1998 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.1%).
Does the 1998 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 30-60k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,783 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.