Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 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 2001 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 2001 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.

How many 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

27% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero reliable?

Based on MOT data from 168 vehicles, the 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero are: Oil leak (43.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (34.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (31% 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 2001 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Mitsubishi Pajero (2001)

168 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.7% first-time pass rate

2001 Mitsubishi Pajero

CarHunch analysed 168 real MOT records for the 2001 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? →

On this page

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 Compare Models

The 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero passes its MOT first time in only 71.7% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 27% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for any buyer. The diesel variants, which make up the bulk of the sample, fare no better at 71.0%, suggesting the issue isn't fuel-type specific.

With an average mileage of 108,426 miles for a 23-year-old vehicle, these Pajeros are running close to what you'd expect, but they're racking up an average of 3.57 failures and 17.9 advisories per test—pointing to widespread wear in brakes, suspension, and emissions systems. Before committing to one, have a trusted mechanic inspect the undercarriage and brake components thoroughly, as this generation clearly demands more maintenance than most rivals its age.

We have limited data for the 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

71.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

26.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.57

Over 12 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

112k

Middle half: 85k–142k

For context

These stats describe 168 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 168 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 43.1%

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

Tyre wear 34.2%

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.

Brake wear 30%

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

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

Suspension & steering 25.4%

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

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 168 Mitsubishi Pajero cars.

Before you buy a 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero

Based on MOT data from 168 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.8% 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%)	115	71%	3.73
Petrol (31%)	52	73.3%	3.21

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 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.

112,035

typical

84,747

low mileage

142,057

high mileage

Half of all 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles fall between 84,747 and 142,057 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 84,747 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.

✓ 84,747–142,057 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Mitsubishi Pajeros sit.

⚠ Over 191,776 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Mitsubishi Pajero — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 33% of 2001 Mitsubishi Pajeros are still active.

Numbers are declining — 28 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (33% 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

3.57

Avg failures per vehicle

17.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004

Or browse all models: Mitsubishi →

Compare with another model

See how the 2001 Mitsubishi Pajero stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on