1999 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Mitsubishi Shogun passed 76.2% of its 2,157 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 24.7%, so the 1999 Shogun sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.1%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, integral vehicle structure condition and prescribed areas — chassis condition alone was recorded 166 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 2.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 150k — 10.2× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 23.6% of the time against 24.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.5% in 2021 to 19.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 282 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 268 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 219 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.9% | 213 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 115 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 93 |
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 | 166 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 160 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 128 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 128 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 122 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 108 |
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 | 40.4% | 872 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.6% | 853 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.2% | 609 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.5% | 571 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.1% | 347 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.2% | 284 |
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 | 43 | 2.3% |
| 60-90k | 192 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 488 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 708 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 709 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,568 | 23.6% |
| Petrol | 589 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 607 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 514 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 413 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 347 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 276 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Shogun
On a 1999 Shogun, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.4% 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 (10.2% 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 1999 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 2,157 1999 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.4%).
Does the 1999 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.3% in the 30-60k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,157 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.