Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

21% 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 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero reliable?

Based on MOT data from 158 vehicles, the 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 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 2002 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 (2002)

158 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.8% first-time pass rate

2002 Mitsubishi Pajero

CarHunch analysed 158 real MOT records for the 2002 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 Compare Models

The 2002 Pajero falls slightly short of the UK average with a 76.8% first-time pass rate compared to 80%, and one in five owners have encountered a dangerous defect during ownership—a notable concern for buyers considering this model. Diesel variants, which make up the majority of this cohort, pass at 75.6%, suggesting the fuel type isn't helping reliability credentials.

At around 109,000 miles on average, these 22-year-old Pajeros are running high but not unexpectedly so for their age, though the average of 2.75 failures per test and 14 advisories per vehicle points to accumulated wear that requires active maintenance. If you're buying one, budget for regular mechanical attention and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and cooling systems where age typically shows on this generation.

We have limited data for the 2002 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

76.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

20.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.75

Over 10.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

116k

Middle half: 84k–158k

For context

These stats describe 158 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 158 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 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 158 Mitsubishi Pajero cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero

Based on MOT data from 158 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 20.9% 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 (70%)	111	75.6%	3.02

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 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.

115,669

typical

83,706

low mileage

157,655

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles fall between 83,706 and 157,655 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 83,706 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.

✓ 83,706–157,655 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Mitsubishi Pajeros sit.

⚠ Over 212,834 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Mitsubishi Pajero — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 42% of 2002 Mitsubishi Pajeros are still active.

Numbers are declining — 27 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (42% 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

10.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.75

Avg failures per vehicle

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 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?