2021 Mitsubishi L200 — MOT failures & pass rate
3,863 MOT tests on the 2021 Mitsubishi L200 are in this dataset, and 90.5% of them passed. That is 2.4 percentage points better than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 11.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.5%) and visibility (3.7%) 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 brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 129 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.1% versus 4.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.9% in 2023 to 10.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 172 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 143 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 101 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.1% | 81 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 49 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 129 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 84 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 59 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 50 |
| 5 | Washers | 48 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 45 |
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 | 16.7% | 644 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.1% | 583 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 208 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.7% | 183 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 125 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 87 |
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 | 1,014 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,881 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 758 | 12.0% |
| 90-120k | 178 | 10.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 1,907 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 1,890 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 L200
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.7% 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 (2.6% 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 2021 Mitsubishi L200s pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 3,863 2021 Mitsubishi L200 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Mitsubishi L200?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by visibility (3.7%).
Does the 2021 L200 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,863 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.