2018 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,455 MOT tests, the 2018 Mitsubishi Shogun recorded an 88.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.4%) and lighting & signalling (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 240 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.4% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.4% | 349 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 225 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.6% | 166 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 164 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.2% | 142 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 240 |
| 2 | Wipers | 169 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 105 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 70 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 57 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 52 |
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 | 19.9% | 1,283 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.3% | 924 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.7% | 693 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 333 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 179 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 110 |
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 | 2,114 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,673 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 881 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 237 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 122 | 15.6% |
| 150k+ | 427 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,287 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 1,311 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 1,311 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 1,251 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 1,295 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Shogun
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.6% 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 2018 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 6,455 2018 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Brakes, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Does the 2018 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,455 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.