2012 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,190 MOT tests, the 2012 Mitsubishi Shogun recorded an 80.4% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), the 2012 Shogun comes out 1.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.0%) and brakes (8.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and brake pads — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 183 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.7% versus 12.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 417 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.8% | 367 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 319 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 141 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.1% | 130 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 118 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 183 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 167 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 147 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 129 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 129 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 120 |
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 | 30.5% | 1,279 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.9% | 874 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.0% | 714 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 421 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.5% | 274 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 264 |
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 | 62 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 545 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,366 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,255 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 615 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 345 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 876 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 863 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 809 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 833 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 809 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Shogun
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.8% 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.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 2012 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
80.4% of the 4,190 2012 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.8%).
Does the 2012 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,190 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.