2004 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
23,770 MOT tests on the 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun are in this dataset, and 71.9% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.5%) and lighting & signalling (14.1%) 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, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,418 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.1% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (28.2% vs 26.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.9% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.5% | 3,690 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 3,364 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.0% | 2,856 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 2,296 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 1,279 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.4% | 1,274 |
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 | 2,418 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,310 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,296 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,237 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,142 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,131 |
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 | 40.8% | 9,704 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.0% | 8,556 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.2% | 5,279 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.9% | 4,968 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.2% | 4,087 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 4,073 |
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 | 58 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 509 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,583 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,337 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,570 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 6,690 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,407 | 28.2% |
| Petrol | 1,363 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,855 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 5,821 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 4,591 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 3,608 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 2,895 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Shogun
On a 2004 Shogun, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.5% 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 (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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 2004 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 23,770 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Suspension, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.1%).
Does the 2004 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,770 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.