Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun?

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 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun?

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 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun?

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 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,738 vehicles, the 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun has a first-time MOT pass rate of 64.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun are: Oil leak (19.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (19% of vehicles), Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (13.9% 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 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun?

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 Shogun (1988)

1,738 real MOT outcomes analysed • 64.4% first-time pass rate

1988 Mitsubishi Shogun

CarHunch analysed 1,738 real MOT records for the 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun. 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 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun has a below-average first-time pass rate (64.4% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

64.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

15.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.49

Over 4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

158k

Middle half: 136k–180k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.7 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 1,738 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 1,738 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 19.3%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 19%

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

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

Seat belts 13.9%

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Exhaust & emissions 12.6%

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

Lighting 11.1%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Brake wear 9.4%

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated · Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated · …

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

Corrosion / rust 9.3%

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings

Inspect sills, subframes and brake pipes in person — photos rarely show structural rust.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,738 Mitsubishi Shogun cars.

Before you buy a 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun

Based on MOT data from 1,738 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.1% 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 (81%)	1,401	64.8%	1.49
Petrol (19%)	333	62.9%	1.49

Colour Breakdown

Based on 113,248 Mitsubishi Shogun vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 21%

23,728

Silver 20.7%

23,488

Green 15.2%

17,211

Black 12.9%

14,582

Grey 11%

12,406

Red 8.9%

10,027

White 5.5%

6,208

Gold 2.5%

2,820

Brown 1.2%

1,344

Beige 0.8%

884

Bronze 0.3%

314

Maroon 0.2%

236

Mileage Distribution

Most 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun 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.

157,759

typical

136,427

low mileage

180,495

high mileage

Half of all 1988 Mitsubishi Shogun vehicles fall between 136,427 and 180,495 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 136,427 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.

✓ 136,427–180,495 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1988 Mitsubishi Shoguns sit.

⚠ Over 243,668 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1988 Mitsubishi Shogun — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 22% of 1988 Mitsubishi Shoguns are still active.

Numbers are declining — 15 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

1.49

Avg failures per vehicle

4.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

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Buyer beware — pass it on