Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Mitsubishi L200?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Mitsubishi L200?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Mitsubishi L200?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Mitsubishi L200 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,104 vehicles, the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Mitsubishi L200?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Mitsubishi L200 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (57.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (55.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (53% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Mitsubishi L200?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mitsubishi L200 (2012)

4,104 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.1% first-time pass rate

2012 Mitsubishi L200

CarHunch analysed 4,104 real MOT records for the 2012 Mitsubishi L200. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Mitsubishi L200 has a first-time pass rate of 78.1%, just shy of the UK average of 80%, which puts it in broadly average territory—though the concerning part is that nearly one in three of these vehicles (31.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting structural or safety issues warrant serious attention before purchase. Almost all L200s in this cohort are diesel, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At 77,643 miles median and nearly 80,000 miles on average, these pickups show typical mileage for their age, but they're racking up real problems: an average of 2.9 failures and 16.1 advisories per test point to chronic wear in multiple systems. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on chassis integrity and braking components, given the dangerous defect prevalence.

The 2012 Mitsubishi L200 has a decent first-time pass rate (78.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

78.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

31.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.9

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

78k

Middle half: 60k–97k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 4,104 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 4,104 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 57.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 37.7%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Tyre wear 30.4%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 21.6%

Rear fog lamp not working · Offside Front Position lamp not working · Nearside Front Position lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 4,104 Mitsubishi L200 cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Mitsubishi L200

Based on MOT data from 4,104 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (100%)	4,102	78.1%	2.9

Colour Breakdown

Based on 119,744 Mitsubishi L200 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 26.6%

31,862

White 18.4%

21,989

Grey 14.1%

16,851

Silver 12.8%

15,348

Red 10.2%

12,233

Blue 9.3%

11,154

Green 7.1%

8,499

Brown 0.8%

899

Orange 0.5%

607

Yellow 0.1%

144

Purple 0.1%

101

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Mitsubishi L200 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

77,643

typical

60,087

low mileage

97,321

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Mitsubishi L200 vehicles fall between 60,087 and 97,321 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 60,087 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 60,087–97,321 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Mitsubishi L200s sit.

⚠ Over 131,383 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Mitsubishi L200 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 65% of 2012 Mitsubishi L200s are still active.

2,502 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.9

Avg failures per vehicle

16.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi L200: All L200 years → Which year to buy? →

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Watch for defects — worth knowing