2002 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab — MOT failures & pass rate
5,428 MOT tests on the 2002 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab are in this dataset, and 70.0% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 28.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.7% of tests against 15.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and chassis condition — position lamp alone was recorded 590 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.0% versus 20.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 1,177 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 861 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.2% | 823 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.6% | 628 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 365 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 347 |
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 | 590 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 454 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 451 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 413 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 345 |
| 6 | Joints | 316 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.1% | 2,177 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.4% | 2,082 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 34.4% | 1,868 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 31.6% | 1,713 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.4% | 1,056 |
| 6 | Tyres | 18.6% | 1,012 |
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 | 129 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 572 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,322 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,720 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,659 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,321 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 107 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,779 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 1,363 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 968 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 749 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 569 | 32.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 L200 Double Cab
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.9% 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 (15.2% 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 2002 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cabs pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 5,428 2002 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (15.9%).
Does the 2002 L200 Double Cab get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.2% in the 30-60k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,428 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.