2001 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,432 MOT tests, the 2001 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab recorded a 70.2% pass rate. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (28.6% fail rate), the 2001 L200 Double Cab comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.8% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and chassis condition — position lamp alone was recorded 268 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.2% in 2021 to 28.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.8% | 529 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 419 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.8% | 359 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.6% | 307 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 155 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 136 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 268 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 237 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 233 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 219 |
| 5 | Joints | 158 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 144 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.8% | 992 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.5% | 911 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 36.4% | 885 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.9% | 799 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.9% | 436 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 396 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 86 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 326 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 534 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 607 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 869 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,385 | 29.8% |
| Petrol | 47 | 31.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 779 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 590 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 458 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 344 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 261 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 L200 Double Cab
On a 2001 L200 Double Cab, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (17.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (14.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cabs pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 2,432 2001 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (17.2%).
Does the 2001 L200 Double Cab get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 30-60k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,432 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.