Model Reports 8 min read Updated 11 Sep 2026 DVSA open data · 2,247 tests analysed

Mitsubishi L200 2005: reliability & common MOT faults

998 first-attempt MOT failures were recorded on the 2005 Mitsubishi L200 in 2025. Figures are among first-attempt failed MOT tests, not among all tests.

Position lamp (front) was the most common reason a 2005 L200 failed its MOT — 19.8% of its failed first attempts.

First-attempt pass

55.6%

of 2,247 first tests (2025)

First tests

2,247

test year 2025

Failed first attempts

998

failed first-attempt tests

MOT pass rates

First-attempt and official-style rates among class 4 first tests of the year.

First-attempt pass

55.6%

of 2,247 first tests (2025)

Official-style pass

64.3%

incl. same-day PRS fixes

First tests

2,247

class 4 · first MOT of the year

Typical age 20.0 yrs · median mileage 122,728 mi

vs 2024: +2.3 pp first-attempt

Note:

  • Class 4 cars · first MOT of the year per vehicle · P/PRS/F outcomes (2025 data).
  • PRS (fixed at the station the same day) counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate.
  • Raw outcomes for this cohort — not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix.
  • MOT doesn't test engine or gearbox internals.

Common faults

Failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars.

These MOT failure patterns show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age, and mileage.

Shares below are measured across the 997 of 998 failed first attempts (99.9%) that recorded an odometer reading in 2025 — the subset the age-and-mileage comparison can be computed on.

Standout: Leaf spring (rear) — 5.7% of this year's failed first attempts

Recorded on 57 of those tests. It tops the table on elevation — about 71× more often than on similar cars of the same age and mileage. That is what makes it unusual for its class, which is a different question from what is most likely to fail; the buying checklist ranks by that. The full ranked list is in the table below.

No patterns met the strongest callout thresholds on this page; showing the highest-lift rows that still cleared the display floors.

Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
Leaf spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Leaf springs > Leaf spring
 Rear 57 ×71 5.7% Likely
Prop shaft
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Prop shafts > Prop shaft
 Any 30 ×29 3.0% Likely
Rear reflectors (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Rear reflectors
 Rear 28 ×18 2.8% Possible
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Front 80 ×16 8.0% Likely
Chassis condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Front 48 ×5.5 4.8% Likely
Rear fog lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
 Rear 89 ×4.5 8.9% Likely
Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Rear 64 ×4.1 6.4% Likely
Linkage pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes
 Front 29 ×3.9 2.9% Possible
Engine oil leaks
Noise, emissions and leaks > Fluid leaks > Engine oil leaks
 Any 25 ×3.7 2.5% Possible
Malfunction indicator lamp
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp
 Any 26 ×3.5 2.6% Possible

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and about 2.0× more often than similar cars).

Note: Rates and comparisons are among first-attempt failed tests, not all MOTs. Patterns come from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer service bulletins, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Failures and advisories are listed separately.

Advisories

Notes recorded at the test that appear more often than on similar cars.

Advisory notes recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear more often than on similar cars.

Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
Shackle pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Leaf springs > Shackle pins and bushes
 Rear 60 ×99 6.0% Likely
Steering box
Steering > Steering play > Steering box
 Any 33 ×40 3.3% Elevated
Prop shaft
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Prop shafts > Prop shaft
 Any 36 ×36 3.6% Likely
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Front 103 ×11 10.3% Likely
Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Front 172 ×9.8 17.3% Possible
Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Rear 120 ×8.7 12.0% Elevated
Chassis condition (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Front 39 ×6.4 3.9% Likely
Side repeaters
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Side repeaters
 Any 26 ×6.1 2.6% Possible
Note: Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

If you are buying one

What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.

Nothing separates this year from the L200 either side of it, so buy on the individual car. The checks below are the items that actually failed 2005 L200, commonest first.

What to check on a 2005 L200

The items that failed 2005 L200 most often, as a share of the year's failed first attempts. This is what goes wrong, not what is unusual — the table further up the page covers that.

  • Position lamp (front) — recorded on 19.8% of failed first attempts
  • Rear fog lamp — recorded on 8.9% of failed first attempts
  • Drive shafts — Joints (front) — recorded on 8.9% of failed first attempts
  • Pins and bushes (front) — recorded on 8.0% of failed first attempts
  • Stop lamp — recorded on 7.9% of failed first attempts

Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.

FAQs

Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.

Position lamp (front) was the most common reason a 2005 L200 failed its MOT — 19.8% of its failed first attempts. In 2025, 55.6% of 2,247 first MOTs on the 2005 Mitsubishi L200 passed first time (PRS — items fixed at the station the same day — counted as a fail). The official-style rate including PRS is 64.3%. Among 998 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Leaf spring (rear) appears more often than on si…
Ranked by how often they were actually recorded, the items that failed 2005 Mitsubishi L200s most often at the first attempt were Position lamp (front) (19.8%), Rear fog lamp (8.9%) and Drive shafts — Joints (front) (8.9%) — each as a share of the year's failed first attempts. That is what goes wrong on the car. It is a different question from which patterns are unusual for the class, which the common-faults table a…
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Leaf spring (rear) (5.7% of those tests; 57 observed failures; about 71× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Leaf spring (rear) shows up more often than on similar cars (5.7% of those tests; 57 observed failures; about 71× more often than similar cars). That does not prove a design fault — age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2005 Mitsubishi L200 include Leaf spring (rear), Prop shaft, Rear reflectors (rear). These patterns show up more often than on similar cars after we filter out sparse noise — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that appear more often than on similar cars among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights MOT failure patterns for the 2005 Mitsubishi L200 (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin list.
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.

About this data

How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.

These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars — not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.

2024 2025

What we include

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

Same-day repairs

PRS means the car 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.

How we compare

We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.

What this does not cover

  • MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics — this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Age and mileage matching reduces — but does not remove — differences in how cars were used and maintained.
  • We never invent pass rates, star scores, or ranks when those data marts are missing.

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

Check any vehicle’s MOT history

Full MOT history, mileage records, and reliability insights for any UK vehicle.

Run a free check