2005 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 25,046 MOT tests, the 2005 Mitsubishi Shogun recorded a 71.5% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 24.9% of the time, so this is 3.6pp 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 (16.3%) and lighting & signalling (13.8%) 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, rigid brake pipes and pins and bushes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,235 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Shogun fails 26.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.7 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.1% fail against 28.7% for diesel, a 3.6-point gap across 25,040 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.3% | 4,079 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 3,443 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 3,054 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 2,359 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.1% | 1,517 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 1,279 |
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 | 2,235 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,494 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,392 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,345 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 1,295 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,209 |
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 | 41.1% | 10,283 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 8,875 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.8% | 5,705 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.1% | 5,042 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 4,141 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 4,041 |
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 | 60 | 26.7% |
| 30-60k | 687 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,388 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,446 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 7,401 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 6,039 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,030 | 28.7% |
| Petrol | 1,010 | 25.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,966 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 5,916 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 4,968 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 3,995 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 3,201 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Shogun
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.3% 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 (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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 2005 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 25,046 2005 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Suspension, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.8%).
Does the 2005 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.7% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,046 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.