2017 Mitsubishi L200 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Mitsubishi L200 passed 88.3% of its 46,488 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 15.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and brakes (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,477 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.0% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 3,098 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 2,507 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,691 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 1,106 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.2% | 1,040 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 383 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,477 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,378 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,378 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,256 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 921 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 884 |
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 | 21.9% | 10,188 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.0% | 7,908 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 3,622 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.0% | 2,303 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 1,934 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 1,692 |
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 | 4,981 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 18,172 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 14,453 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,212 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,944 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 716 | 19.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,477 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 9,402 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 9,286 | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 9,283 | 13.8% |
| 2025 | 9,040 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 L200
On a 2017 L200, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Mitsubishi L200s pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 46,488 2017 Mitsubishi L200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mitsubishi L200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.4%).
Does the 2017 L200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 19.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,488 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.