2003 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab passed 70.9% of its 11,692 recorded MOT tests. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 29.0%, so the 2003 L200 Double Cab sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.5% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and component mounting prescribed areas — position lamp alone was recorded 1,185 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.9% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.3% in 2021 to 28.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.5% | 2,509 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 1,744 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 1,709 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.9% | 1,271 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 812 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 722 |
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 | 1,185 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 970 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 727 |
| 4 | Joints | 727 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 719 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 660 |
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 | 41.0% | 4,791 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.6% | 4,511 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.9% | 3,845 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 31.1% | 3,634 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.6% | 2,174 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 2,153 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 57 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 327 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,581 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,409 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,499 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,797 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,600 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 92 | 20.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,656 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 2,941 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 2,215 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 1,633 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 1,247 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2003 L200 Double Cab
On a 2003 L200 Double Cab, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.9% 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 (14.6% 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 2003 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cabs pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 11,692 2003 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.9%).
Does the 2003 L200 Double Cab get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,692 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.