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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2005 Mitsubishi L200 MOT fail rate and common faults

How Mitsubishi L200 cars first used in 2005 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 13,646 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 20 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 20 (n=2,424)42.3%
All cars at 20 years (n=1,845,952)42.8%
Difference−0.4 pts
MOT tests of 2005 cars, 2022 to 202513,646

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 20 years old, Mitsubishi L200 cars first used in 2005 failed 42.3% of MOTs (2,424 tests), about the same as the 42.8% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 17 to 20 years old, the fail rate moved from 45.4% to 42.3%.
  • Mitsubishi L200 cars first used a year earlier, in 2004, failed 43.8% at the same age of 20 years (2,269 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Mitsubishi L200 at 20 years, is rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded, at 5.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.5).

MOT fail rate by test year

Mitsubishi L200 cars first used in 2005: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202217 years45.4%4,57443.1%+2.4 pts
202318 years43.2%3,72343.3%0.0 pts
202419 years45.0%2,92543.2%+1.8 pts
202520 years42.3%2,42442.8%−0.4 pts

Most common faults at 20 years

These figures cover all Mitsubishi L200 MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=8,233). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Side/position light not working Wear9.45.2
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded5.32.5
Rear fog lamp: not working Wear4.91.3
Driveshaft CV boot split4.53.1
Wipers not clearing screen Wear4.33.4
Brake light not working Wear4.13.9
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.92.9
Anti-roll bar pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.70.4
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.62.2
Steering track rod end: ball joint play3.52.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=8,233). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive29.914.1
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material29.015.2
Wheel bearings: has slight play13.81.6
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear11.315.7
Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced11.21.9
Anti-roll bar pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement8.91.3
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear8.75.4
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear7.410.2
Suspension ball joint: slight play7.12.7
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases6.45.4

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=8,233). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 20 years

These figures cover all Mitsubishi L200 MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=8,233). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel100.0%43.8%8,18043.6%122,774 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 20 years

These figures cover all Mitsubishi L200 MOTs at 20 years: cars first used 2002 to 2005, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=8,233). At 20 years, Mitsubishi L200 cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (48.2%, n=1,973) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (39.9%, n=1,194). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
60,000 to 90,000 miles39.9%1,19441.3%
90,000 to 120,000 miles44.4%2,25845.5%
120,000 to 150,000 miles45.4%2,35147.2%
Over 150,000 miles48.2%1,97346.9%

Car tax rules for a 2005 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2005 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Mitsubishi L200

Other Mitsubishi models first used in 2005

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Mitsubishi Shogun (2005)20 years in 202539.0%1,61142.8%
Mitsubishi Colt (2005)20 years in 202547.7%1,47042.8%

More on the Mitsubishi L200

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2005 Mitsubishi L200 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.