Mitsubishi Pajero (1992)

5,457 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.2% first-time pass rate

1992 Mitsubishi Pajero

CarHunch analysed 5,457 real MOT records for the 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero falls notably short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of 71.2% against the national benchmark of 80%, suggesting these 30-year-old vehicles demand careful pre-purchase inspection. Dangerous defects show up in 17.7% of examples, which is a legitimate concern for a buyer—this is the kind of thing you want a mechanic to flag before you commit.

These Pajeros are running high mileage for their age at a median of 147,379 miles, yet still average 2.73 failures per MOT, pointing to wear that accumulates quickly in suspension, brakes, and steering rather than catastrophic breakdown. The 14 advisories per vehicle underline that ownership means steady maintenance spend; budget for regular work and always get a pre-purchase inspection by someone who knows these models well.

Below average reliability 8.8% below UK average
71.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
147,379
typical mileage
121,772–175,744 middle half
17.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.73
avg MOT failures per car
over 8.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1992 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.

Before you buy a Mitsubishi Pajero

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (98%) 5,345 71.2% 2.74
Petrol (2%) 107 73.5% 2.38
LPG (0%) 4 68.1% 4.5
Other (0%) 1 66.7% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1992 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.

121,772
low mileage
147,379
typical
175,744
high mileage

Half of all 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles fall between 121,772 and 175,744 miles.

1992 Mitsubishi Pajero — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 90 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).

1,497 90 2014 2025

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

8.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.73
Avg failures per vehicle
14
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 82.7%
    Oil leak
  • 53.9%
    Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play
  • 49%
    Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play
  • 49%
    Fuel pipe/s corroded
  • 37.1%
    Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine
  • 36.4%
    Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 35.8%
    Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 33.1%
    Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1992. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mitsubishi Pajero?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Mitsubishi Pajero:

1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004