Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.

How many 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% 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 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,620 vehicles, the 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.5% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.8% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (51.7% 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 2004 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 (2004)

5,620 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.4% first-time pass rate

2004 Mitsubishi Shogun

CarHunch analysed 5,620 real MOT records for the 2004 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 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun falls short of the UK average with a 75.4% first-time pass rate versus 80%, and carries a serious red flag: 42.8% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects, nearly double the typical threshold for concern. Both diesel and petrol versions perform similarly (75.3% and 77.3% respectively), so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

These Shoguns are genuinely aged workhorses, with a median of around 95,000 miles reflecting typical high-mileage SUV use, yet they still rack up an average of 4.81 failures and 26.4 advisories per test. Before buying, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on the suspension, brakes, and steering components—the dangerous defect rate suggests these older examples are developing serious structural or safety issues that could become costly fast.

The 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun has a decent first-time pass rate (75.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

42.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.81

Over 18.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

95k

Middle half: 76k–114k

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 26.4 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 5,620 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,620 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 60.5%

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 51.7%

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

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

Other issues 49.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak

Suspension & steering 44.7%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · 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 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,620 Mitsubishi Shogun cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun

Based on MOT data from 5,620 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.8% 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 (96%)	5,395	75.3%	4.84
Petrol (4%)	224	77.3%	3.97

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 2004 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.

94,887

typical

75,923

low mileage

114,399

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mitsubishi Shogun vehicles fall between 75,923 and 114,399 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 75,923 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.

✓ 75,923–114,399 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Mitsubishi Shoguns sit.

⚠ Over 154,438 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Mitsubishi Shogun — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 30% of 2004 Mitsubishi Shoguns are still active.

Numbers are declining — 1,412 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (30% 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

18.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.81

Avg failures per vehicle

26.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Watch for defects — worth knowing