2021 Mitsubishi Shogun — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Mitsubishi Shogun passed 90.6% of its 2,658 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (8.9% 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 (5.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 136 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 7.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.7% | 151 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 85 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 60 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 52 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.1% | 29 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 10 |
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 | 136 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 73 |
| 3 | Wipers | 51 |
| 4 | Linkage pins and bushes | 43 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 36 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 33 |
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 | 20.3% | 540 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.6% | 441 |
| 3 | Tyres | 11.4% | 302 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.7% | 125 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 74 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 28 |
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 | 948 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,404 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 262 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 59 | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 1,284 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 1,311 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Shogun
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.7% 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 (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.3% 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.
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 2021 Mitsubishi Shoguns pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 2,658 2021 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Mitsubishi Shogun?
Brakes, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2021 Shogun get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,658 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.