2002 Mitsubishi L200 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Mitsubishi L200 passed 72.6% of its 1,762 recorded MOT tests. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (28.8% fail rate), the 2002 L200 comes out 1.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.8% of all tests — 6.4 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 chassis condition — position lamp alone was recorded 195 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.3% in the 30-60k band and 31.4% in the 150k+ band, a 15.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 26.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 366 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 253 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 216 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.1% | 195 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 121 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.8% | 84 |
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 | 195 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 157 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 130 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 106 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 104 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 95 |
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 | 38.4% | 676 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.7% | 629 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.1% | 565 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 30.0% | 528 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.8% | 331 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 327 |
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 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 287 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 532 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 389 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 443 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,724 | 27.6% |
| Petrol | 38 | 21.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 474 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 412 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 343 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 278 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 255 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 L200
On a 2002 L200, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.4% 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 (12.3% 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 L200s pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 1,762 2002 Mitsubishi L200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Mitsubishi L200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (14.4%).
Does the 2002 L200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 30-60k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,762 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.