2020 Mitsubishi L200 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Mitsubishi L200 passed 90.0% of its 8,556 recorded MOT tests. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (12.6% fail rate), the 2020 L200 comes out 2.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.3%) and visibility (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and washers — wipers alone was recorded 279 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.8% once past 120-150k — 3.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.6% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 370 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 356 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 290 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.3% | 198 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 152 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 111 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 279 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 223 |
| 3 | Washers | 160 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 157 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 120 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 96 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.9% | 1,449 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 1,345 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 429 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 394 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 323 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 213 |
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 | 2,123 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,935 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,859 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 528 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 96 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 66 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 2,818 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 2,915 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 2,750 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 L200
On a 2020 L200, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.2% 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.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2020 Mitsubishi L200s pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 8,556 2020 Mitsubishi L200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Mitsubishi L200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2020 L200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,556 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.