Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero reliable?

Based on MOT data from 266 vehicles, the 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero are: Oil leak (43.7% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (35% of vehicles), Offside Rear fog lamp not working (31.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mitsubishi Pajero (1988)

266 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.3% first-time pass rate

1988 Mitsubishi Pajero

CarHunch analysed 266 real MOT records for the 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

68.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.11

Over 5.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

176k

Middle half: 143k–208k

For context

These stats describe 266 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 266 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 43.7%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Brake wear 35%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 31.8%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 21.2%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Exhaust & emissions 21.2%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Tyre wear 17.4%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 266 Mitsubishi Pajero cars.

Before you buy a 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero

Based on MOT data from 266 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (95%)	252	68.1%	2.1

Colour Breakdown

Based on 28,178 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 28.1%

7,922

Silver 17%

4,777

Green 15.4%

4,327

Grey 11.5%

3,229

Gold 10.3%

2,912

White 9.1%

2,557

Red 4.3%

1,217

Black 2.9%

825

Beige 0.6%

166

Brown 0.4%

105

Maroon 0.3%

Bronze 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

175,915

typical

143,093

low mileage

207,929

high mileage

Half of all 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles fall between 143,093 and 207,929 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 143,093 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 143,093–207,929 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1988 Mitsubishi Pajeros sit.

⚠ Over 280,704 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1988 Mitsubishi Pajero — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 29% of 1988 Mitsubishi Pajeros are still active.

Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2018 (29% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2018.

MOT History Averages

5.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.11

Avg failures per vehicle

8.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Pajero: All Pajero years → Which year to buy? →

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

See how the 1988 Mitsubishi Pajero stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on