Mitsubishi L300 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mitsubishi L300 appears in 1,105 MOT tests spanning model years 1981–2021, and 75.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 24.6%, so the L300 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests against 10.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 98 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.3% versus 21.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 24.0% of the time against 24.3% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 23.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every L300 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 30 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 39 | 82.0% | 17.9% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1991 | 37 | 75.7% | 24.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 45 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Suspension |
| 1994 | 39 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 43 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 96 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 109 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 65 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Visibility |
| 1999 | 95 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 147 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 79 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 56 | 76.8% | 23.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 153 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.3% | 114 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 93 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.1% | 89 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 71 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 45 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.3% | 36 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.1% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 98 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 63 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 55 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 55 |
| 5 | Wipers | 53 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 49 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 46 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 43 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.2% | 422 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.5% | 359 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.4% | 270 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.2% | 234 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.3% | 213 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 132 |
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 | 104 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 236 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 263 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 161 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 332 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 575 | 24.0% |
| Petrol | 530 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 295 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 244 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 216 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 185 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 165 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi L300
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.3% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.4% 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+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi L300?
75.8% of the 1,105 Mitsubishi L300 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.2% fail rate, across model years 1981–2021.
What does the Mitsubishi L300 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, then suspension (10.3%).
How much does mileage affect L300 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 21.1% for cars in the 30-60k band and 25.3% for 150k+, a 4.2-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol L300 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 24.0% of the time against 24.3% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,105 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.