Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Mitsubishi L200 2012: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 include Rear fog lamp (~16.1× peers) and Rear fog lamp (rear) (~13.1× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (1,086 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

1,086 failed first-attempt tests · 2,534 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Rear fog lamp — about 16.1× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

Rear fog lamp: about 16.1× more often than similar cars
Rear fog lamp (rear): about 13.1× more often than similar cars
Rigid brake pipes (rear): about 7.7× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 1,086 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Rear fog lamp

This failure pattern appears about 16.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 205 failed first-attempt tests; 18.9% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 205 failures · ×16.1 vs similar cars · 18.9% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Rear fog lamp (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 13.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 103 failed first-attempt tests; 9.5% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 103 failures · ×13.1 vs similar cars · 9.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Rigid brake pipes (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 7.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 112 failed first-attempt tests; 10.3% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 112 failures · ×7.7 vs similar cars · 10.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

#	Fault pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Leaf spring (rear) Suspension > Springs > Leaf springs > Leaf spring	Rear	65	×33.1	6.0%	Likely common fault pattern
2	Rear fog lamp Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp	Any	205	×16.1	18.9%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3	Rear fog lamp (rear) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp	Rear	103	×13.1	9.5%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4	Chassis condition (rear) Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition	Rear	25	×10.6	2.3%	Possible elevated fault
5	Rigid brake pipes Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Any	42	×9.5	3.9%	Likely common fault pattern
6	Rigid brake pipes (front) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Front	68	×8.3	6.3%	Likely common fault pattern
7	Rigid brake pipes (rear) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Rear	112	×7.7	10.3%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
8	Anti-lock braking system Brakes > ABS / EBS / ESC > Anti-lock braking system	Any	73	×4.6	6.7%	Likely common fault pattern
9	On or after 01/07/2008 Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > On or after 01/07/2008	Any	59	×3.7	5.4%	Likely common fault pattern
10	Wheel bearings (front) Suspension > Wheel bearings	Front	46	×3.5	4.2%	Likely common fault pattern

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

#	Advisory pattern	Location	Notes	vs similar cars	Share	Confidence
1	Shackle pins and bushes (rear) Suspension > Springs > Leaf springs > Shackle pins and bushes	Rear	27	×77.8	2.5%	Elevated vs peers
2	Chassis condition Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition	Any	92	×24.4	8.5%	Elevated vs peers
3	Chassis condition (rear) Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition	Rear	45	×11.0	4.1%	Possible elevated fault
4	Rigid brake pipes (front) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Front	208	×7.9	19.2%	Likely common fault pattern
5	Rigid brake pipes Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Any	98	×6.6	9.0%	Likely common fault pattern
6	Suspension arm (front) Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm	Front	66	×5.2	6.1%	Elevated vs peers
7	Rigid brake pipes (rear) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Rear	198	×4.9	18.2%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
8	Flexible brake hoses (front) Brakes > Flexible brake hoses	Front	21	×4.3	1.9%	Elevated vs peers

FAQs

Is the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 reliable?

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 on this page. Among 1,086 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Rear fog lamp appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 16.1× more often than peers; 205 observed failures; 18.9% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.

What common MOT faults stand out on the Mitsubishi L200 2012?

Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Rear fog lamp (about 16.1× more often than peers; 205 observed failures; 18.9% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.

Why does Rear fog lamp stand out?

Rear fog lamp shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 16.1× more often than peers; 205 observed failures; 18.9% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.

What are common problems with the 2012 Mitsubishi L200?

Common MOT problem areas for the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 include Rear fog lamp, Rear fog lamp (rear), Rigid brake pipes (rear). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.

How should I read advisories vs fails?

Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.

What does this Mitsubishi L200 2012 MOT report cover?

This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.

Does this include engine and gearbox problems?

No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

What is PRS, and why does it count as a fail?

PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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