2012 Mitsubishi L200 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Mitsubishi L200 passed 76.0% of its 19,644 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as pick-up trucks of a similar age (24.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests against 9.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, rear fog lamp and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,930 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.6% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 3,582 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 1,911 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 1,856 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 1,062 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 888 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 748 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,930 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 1,811 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,510 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 814 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 759 |
| 6 | Wipers | 713 |
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 | 35.5% | 6,965 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.0% | 4,522 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.0% | 3,536 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 2,560 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 2,323 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.1% | 1,595 |
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 | 252 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,789 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 5,212 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 6,357 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,052 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,975 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,249 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 4,204 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 4,010 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 3,776 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 3,405 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 L200
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.7% 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.
- Suspension (9.4% 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 2012 Mitsubishi L200s pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 19,644 2012 Mitsubishi L200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mitsubishi L200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by brakes (9.7%).
Does the 2012 L200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,644 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.