2015 Mitsubishi Shogun 3.2L Diesel · AM61 PWM

The defining mechanical signature of this Mitsubishi Shogun is a steering rack wear pattern that has persisted across three consecutive annual tests, accompanied by a catalogue of brake and chassis advisories that have built up over the four most recent MOT records. On 21 October 2025 the vehicle passed with an advisory noting play in the offside steering rack inner joint, the third year running this exact defect has been flagged, alongside a newly recorded advisory for light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber and a recurring note that the third-row passenger seat was absent at the time of test. Although the most recent pass is a pass, the repeat advisories suggest a steering rack that is incrementally degrading rather than being rectified between tests, and the appearance of shock absorber seepage introduces a fresh wear point that warrants close attention. Taken together, the record shows a vehicle that is technically roadworthy but carries an accumulating list of chassis and brake component advisories that point toward a car whose undercarriage wear is catching up with it. Against an age of eleven years, the recorded 52,325 miles equates to an average annual accumulation of roughly 4,750 miles, which is well below the typical mileage for a working family SUV of this size and suggests either genuinely light use or significant periods of standing. There are no multi-year gaps in the MOT history to indicate a long-term lay-up, and the mileage has progressed steadily between tests, so the car does not appear to have suffered from extended storage related deterioration such as seized brakes or perished coolant hoses. Mechanically this low-mileage profile means less wear on major drivetrain components, but the advisories on tyres wearing thin across all four corners in 2022, brake pads wearing thin front and rear, and the persistent steering and shock absorber concerns indicate that age-related component fatigue on suspension and rubber items is occurring even at modest mileage, as is typical for a heavy off-road oriented vehicle whose components are heavily loaded when used. For a prospective buyer, the steering rack inner joint should be the priority item to investigate physically, because three years of recorded play suggests it may now be approaching the point where replacement becomes necessary rather than merely advisable. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over uneven surfaces, pay particular attention to any vagueness or delay in steering response especially when turning into corners, and check for uneven tyre wear across the offside front as a secondary symptom of worn steering geometry. The offside rear shock absorber oil misting should be inspected for any progression to a visible wet film or drip, and the unit should be checked for extension damping by pushing down firmly on the corresponding corner and observing whether the vehicle rebounds more than once, which would indicate reduced damping efficiency. The brake system history deserves a structured check, with the 2022 advisories for thin front pads and the 2024 advisory for thinning rear pads both suggesting pad and possibly disc replacement may now be due or imminent. On test, feel for any pedal judder under firm braking which would indicate disc warping, and listen for any grinding or squealing that could suggest pads have worn down to the backing plate. The third-row seat absence is worth clarifying with the seller, as this could simply mean the seat has been removed for load carrying purposes, but the buyer should confirm whether all seatbelts and mounting points remain intact and that no warning lights appear on the dashboard relating to airbag or occupancy detection systems. Finally, a thorough inspection underneath on a ramp is advisable given the Shogun's known susceptibility to underbody and subframe corrosion, with particular attention to chassis rails, suspension arming mounting points, and brake lines for any surface rust or corrosion that has not yet been recorded but could become the next advisory at the following MOT.