Mitsubishi Pajero (1990)
1990 Mitsubishi Pajero
CarHunch analysed 1,132 real MOT records for the 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero passes its MOT first time only 68.5% of the time, well below the UK average of 80%, which means buyers should budget for repair costs before purchase. Nearly one in five of these vehicles (18.8%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a meaningful concern for a 34-year-old vehicle that's seen average mileage of 167,233 miles.
At 165,000 miles median, these Pajeros are genuinely high-milers for their age, yet they accumulate an average of 2.72 failures per MOT cycle, suggesting wear is catching up faster than in more reliable cohorts. Expect around a dozen minor advisories per test; budget for brake and suspension work before buying, and have any example thoroughly inspected by a mechanic familiar with 1990s Japanese 4x4s.
What to check before buying a 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (96%) | 1,088 | 68.6% | 2.75 |
| Petrol (4%) | 42 | 67.7% | 1.74 |
| LPG (0%) | 2 | 61.1% | 5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles fall between 138,652 and 196,047 miles.
1990 Mitsubishi Pajero — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 31 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (12% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1990 Mitsubishi Pajero
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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66.6%
Oil leak
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38.5%
Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play
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37.8%
Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play
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36.6%
Fuel pipe/s corroded
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32.6%
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine
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30.7%
Offside Rear fog lamp not working
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26.4%
Brake pipe slightly corroded
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25%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mitsubishi Pajero?
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