Mitsubishi L200 2008: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2008 Mitsubishi L200 include Rear fog lamp (~8.7× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (987 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Rear fog lamp: about 8.7× 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 987 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Rear fog lamp

This failure pattern appears about 8.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 122 failed first-attempt tests; 12.4% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 122 failures · ×8.7 vs similar cars · 12.4% 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 78 ×53.4 7.9% 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 122 ×8.7 12.4% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
Front 78 ×7.3 7.9% Likely common fault pattern
4 Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
Rear 67 ×6.7 6.8% Likely common fault pattern
5 Rear fog lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
Rear 54 ×6.2 5.5% Likely common fault pattern
6 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
Rear 100 ×4.2 10.1% Likely common fault pattern
7 Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
Front 61 ×4.1 6.2% Likely common fault pattern
8 SRS malfunction indicator lamp
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > SRS malfunction indicator lamp
Any 68 ×2.8 6.9% Possible elevated fault
9 Malfunction indicator lamp
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp
Any 62 ×2.8 6.3% Possible elevated fault
10 Shock absorbers (front)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
Front 68 ×2.7 6.9% Possible elevated fault

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 42 ×109.9 4.3% Elevated vs peers
2 Chassis condition
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
Any 101 ×10.2 10.2% Elevated vs peers
3 Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
Front 214 ×6.9 21.7% Likely common fault pattern
4 Other components
Steering > Power steering > Other components
Any 24 ×6.6 2.4% Elevated vs peers
5 Suspension arm (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
Front 79 ×5.1 8.0% Elevated vs peers
6 Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
Rear 52 ×4.4 5.3% Likely common fault pattern
7 Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
Any 89 ×4.1 9.0% Elevated vs peers
8 Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
Rear 182 ×3.0 18.4% Likely common fault pattern

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2008 Mitsubishi L200 on this page. Among 987 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Rear fog lamp appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 8.7× more often than peers; 122 observed failures; 12.4% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Rear fog lamp (about 8.7× more often than peers; 122 observed failures; 12.4% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Rear fog lamp shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 8.7× more often than peers; 122 observed failures; 12.4% 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.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2008 Mitsubishi L200 include Rear fog lamp. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — 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 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.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2008 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.
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.
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.