Used car guide · 1993–2007

Mitsubishi Pajero common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mitsubishi Pajero, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 4,518 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

4,518MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
20on the UK register

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993

What usually goes wrong with a Mitsubishi Pajero?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mitsubishi Pajero in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mitsubishi Pajero MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Diesel

  • Chassis rust or damage

    up to 5.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 3.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Corroded fuel pipes

    up to 12.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Mitsubishi Pajero MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200764%57% +7173 (small sample)
200668%56% +12369 (small sample)
200570%57% +13722
200468%57% +11786
200366%57% +9564
200261%58% +3288 (small sample)
200164%60% +4228 (small sample)
200064%61% +3157 (small sample)
199973%63% +10147 (small sample)
199875%65% +10127 (small sample)
199774%65% +9131 (small sample)
199665%66% -1218 (small sample)
199568%67% +1235 (small sample)
199465%67% -2242 (small sample)
199365%68% -3131 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mitsubishi Pajero

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the chassis rust or damage? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the Mitsubishi Pajero as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Mitsubishi Pajero as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the body structure rust or damage? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Mitsubishi Pajero as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi Pajero?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score