Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero reliable?

Based on MOT data from 343 vehicles, the 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero are: Oil leak (44.1% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (31.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (31.5% 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 1998 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 (1998)

343 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.2% first-time pass rate

1998 Mitsubishi Pajero

CarHunch analysed 343 real MOT records for the 1998 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

Moderate sample. 343 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero passes its MOT at 76.2%, which is below the UK average of 80%—a modest but meaningful gap that suggests these 26-year-old vehicles need closer attention than most. Diesel versions fare worse than petrol (74.7% vs 77.6% pass rate), and nearly one in five have experienced a dangerous defect, so structural and brake issues are a genuine concern.

These Pajeros are averaging 120,500 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're accumulating 2.83 failures and 15.6 advisories per test—a sign of ageing systems under real stress. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the braking system, suspension, and steering components, since those are where the dangerous defects cluster on this generation.

The 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (76.2%) — 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

76.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

18.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.83

Over 10.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

103k

Middle half: 81k–131k

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 15.6 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 343 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 343 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 44.1%

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

Brake wear 31.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Suspension & steering 31.5%

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.

Tyre wear 28.9%

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

Lighting 22.4%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 343 Mitsubishi Pajero cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero

Based on MOT data from 343 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.7% 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
Petrol (50%)	171	77.6%	2.51
Diesel (49%)	168	74.7%	3.2

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 1998 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.

103,206

typical

80,758

low mileage

131,483

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles fall between 80,758 and 131,483 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 80,758 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.

✓ 80,758–131,483 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Mitsubishi Pajeros sit.

⚠ Over 177,502 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Mitsubishi Pajero — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 36% of 1998 Mitsubishi Pajeros are still active.

Numbers are declining — 49 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (36% 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

10.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.83

Avg failures per vehicle

15.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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Average reliability — agree?