1999 Mitsubishi L200 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 898 MOT tests, the 1999 Mitsubishi L200 recorded a 70.4% pass rate. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 1999 L200 comes out 1.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.2% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, position lamp and rear fog lamp — chassis condition alone was recorded 89 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 L200 fails 30.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 32.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 181 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 133 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.4% | 120 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.3% | 119 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.9% | 62 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 56 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 89 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 89 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 76 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 67 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 60 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 59 |
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 | 39.8% | 357 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.8% | 321 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 34.6% | 311 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 29.4% | 264 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 180 |
| 6 | Tyres | 18.0% | 162 |
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 | 39 | 30.8% |
| 60-90k | 119 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 209 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 212 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 314 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 236 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 207 | 31.9% |
| 2023 | 174 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 148 | 29.7% |
| 2025 | 133 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 L200
On a 1999 L200, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.8% 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+.
- Brakes (13.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1999 Mitsubishi L200s pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 898 1999 Mitsubishi L200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Mitsubishi L200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.8%).
Does the 1999 L200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.8% in the 30-60k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 898 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.