2003 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Mitsubishi Shogun passed 72.1% of its 12,270 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.4%) and lighting & signalling (14.2%) 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, ball joint and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,552 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.4% in the 0-30k band and 29.7% in the 150k+ band, a 8.3-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.9% of the time against 28.1% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.4% | 1,890 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 1,740 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 1,376 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 1,214 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 637 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 604 |
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 | 1,552 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 695 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 649 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 620 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 616 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 583 |
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 | 39.6% | 4,864 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 4,346 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.5% | 2,758 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.8% | 2,556 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 2,119 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 2,010 |
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 | 70 | 21.4% |
| 30-60k | 409 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,449 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,243 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,543 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 3,536 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,562 | 28.1% |
| Petrol | 1,706 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,549 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 3,044 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 2,429 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 1,776 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 1,472 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Shogun
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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
How many 2003 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 12,270 2003 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Suspension, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.2%).
Does the 2003 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,270 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.