Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 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 1997 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 1997 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 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero reliable?

Based on MOT data from 896 vehicles, the 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero are: Oil leak (75.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (56.9% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (53.8% 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 1997 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 (1997)

896 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.3% first-time pass rate

1997 Mitsubishi Pajero

CarHunch analysed 896 real MOT records for the 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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

The 1997 Pajero trails the UK average with a 75.3% first-time pass rate versus the national 80%, suggesting these vehicles are aging less gracefully than most—diesel and petrol variants perform similarly at around 75–76%. Nearly one in five has experienced a dangerous defect, which is a meaningful buyer concern on a 27-year-old vehicle.

At 120,700 miles median mileage, these Pajeros are running hard for their age, and they're proving expensive to keep compliant: owners face an average of 3.3 failures and 19.4 advisories per test. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brakes, suspension, and exhaust systems—the areas generating the most failures—because sorting multiple defects at once will cost significantly more than addressing them upfront.

The 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (75.3%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

75.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.3

Over 12 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

121k

Middle half: 97k–155k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 896 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 896 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 75.5%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 56.9%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play

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

Brake wear 35.9%

Brake pipe slightly corroded · Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Lighting 32.6%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Tyre wear 30.2%

Nearside Front 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.

Exhaust & emissions 28.2%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 896 Mitsubishi Pajero cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero

Based on MOT data from 896 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.9% 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 (68%)	606	74.9%	3.39
Petrol (32%)	289	76%	3.12

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 1997 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.

120,721

typical

96,881

low mileage

154,723

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles fall between 96,881 and 154,723 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 96,881 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.

✓ 96,881–154,723 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Mitsubishi Pajeros sit.

⚠ Over 208,876 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Mitsubishi Pajero — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 1997 Mitsubishi Pajeros are still active.

Numbers are declining — 96 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (22% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.3

Avg failures per vehicle

19.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?