Buying Report · £14.99
Tools

MOT fail rates by first-use year

2004 Mitsubishi Shogun MOT fail rate and common faults

How Mitsubishi Shogun cars first used in 2004 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 8,955 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 21 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 21 (n=1,614)36.7%
All cars at 21 years (n=1,321,417)42.1%
Difference−5.4 pts
MOT tests of 2004 cars, 2022 to 20258,955

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 21 years old, Mitsubishi Shogun cars first used in 2004 failed 36.7% of MOTs (1,614 tests), 5.4 points below the 42.1% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 18 to 21 years old, the fail rate moved from 40.7% to 36.7%.
  • Mitsubishi Shogun cars first used a year earlier, in 2003, failed 37.6% at the same age of 21 years (1,132 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mitsubishi Shogun at 21 years, is component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, at 8.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Mitsubishi Shogun cars first used in 2004: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202218 years40.7%2,97343.3%−2.6 pts
202319 years38.7%2,44843.2%−4.5 pts
202420 years40.1%1,92042.8%−2.7 pts
202521 years36.7%1,61442.1%−5.4 pts

Most common faults at 21 years

These figures cover all Mitsubishi Shogun MOTs at 21 years: cars first used 2001 to 2004, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,088). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength8.43.2
Side/position light not working Wear4.84.9
Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.80.9
Brake light not working Wear4.13.9
Suspension ball joint worn3.22.2
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.72.2
Wipers not clearing screen Wear2.53.5
Seat belt prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced2.51.1
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.42.5
Steering track rod end: ball joint play2.41.9

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,088). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear13.814.8
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material13.415.9
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive10.914.8
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.410.4
Brake pads wearing thin Wear8.25.4
Suspension ball joint: slight play7.72.8
Integral vehicle structure condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced7.12.2
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive7.03.6
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear6.45.3
Headlamp: lens slightly defective Wear5.23.8

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,088). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 21 years

These figures cover all Mitsubishi Shogun MOTs at 21 years: cars first used 2001 to 2004, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,088). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel88.7%38.1%3,62843.0%135,413 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 21 years

These figures cover all Mitsubishi Shogun MOTs at 21 years: cars first used 2001 to 2004, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,088). At 21 years, Mitsubishi Shogun cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (41.6%, n=1,330) than those at 120,000 to 150,000 miles (39.1%, n=1,194). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
120,000 to 150,000 miles39.1%1,19446.5%
Over 150,000 miles41.6%1,33046.6%

Car tax rules for a 2004 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2004 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Mitsubishi Shogun

Other Mitsubishi models first used in 2004

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Mitsubishi L200 (2004)21 years in 202543.4%1,81742.1%

More on the Mitsubishi Shogun

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.