2009 Mitsubishi L200 2.5L Diesel · CV09 VHC

The defining mechanical story of this L200 is a recurring pattern of chassis and underbody corrosion alongside a cluster of wear-related component failures, with two failed tests in 2021 and 2022 casting a long shadow over what is otherwise a series of passes. The most recent test on 31 January 2025 was a pass, but it came with an advisory flagging nearside rear chassis corrosion by the wheel that, while not yet structurally significant, sits within a category that has appeared repeatedly on this vehicle. The 2022 failure is particularly concerning because it combined a failed ABS warning lamp, a split offside front CV boot, and another chassis corrosion advisory, while the 2021 failure was more severe still, recording a fractured nearside rear leaf spring, a seriously weakened offside rear leaf spring, a badly damaged prop shaft, and yet another split CV boot. Between those two failures, the L200 accumulated further brake pipe corrosion advisories and prop shaft joint wear notes, suggesting that the underlying mechanical condition has been slowly deteriorating rather than being resolved at each opportunity. Recorded mileage stands at 101,599 miles across 17 years, which works out to roughly 5,976 miles per year and qualifies as low for a working utility vehicle of this age. The testing record also shows clear gaps, with no MOT entries between November 2020 and November 2021, and again between January 2024 and January 2025, which can indicate periods off the road or simply SORN status. For a pick-up of this vintage, the combination of modest annual mileage and irregular testing is a mixed signal: lighter use generally preserves the engine and gearbox internals, but L200s of this generation are particularly prone to underbody and chassis corrosion when left standing, especially in damp conditions, because road salts and moisture linger on boxed sections and suspension mounting points without the drying effect of regular driving. The low mileage therefore does not offset the corrosion evidence already visible on the MOT record, and a prospective buyer should treat the rust advisories as a leading indicator rather than a cosmetic concern. The components flagged on this vehicle demand close physical inspection before purchase. The repeated brake pipe corrosion advisories, spanning four separate tests across nearside rear, offside rear, nearside rear inner, and front lines, mean the hydraulic braking circuit has been progressively deteriorating; on a test drive, listen for any hiss on pedal application, check that the pedal feels firm rather than spongy, and look under the car for any fresh weeping or grease-packed joints that may be concealing active corrosion. The split CV boot failures on the offside front inner joint in both 2021 and 2022 are a known weak point on these L200s, and you should jack the front and rotate the offside front wheel by hand to feel for any clicking or grinding from the joint, which would indicate that grit has already entered after the boot was compromised. Given that both rear leaf springs were flagged as fractured or seriously weakened at the 2021 test, the rear suspension must be examined for sagging, cracked spring leaves, or any knocking over uneven surfaces, and the vehicle should sit level when unladen. The chassis and prop shaft warnings deserve equal attention. The yellow-marked chassis corrosion by the nearside rear wheel in 2025, combined with the earlier 2022 advisory on the rear vehicle structure, points to an area that has now been flagged at three tests; a thorough inspection with a torch and ideally a small hammer is warranted to check for flaking metal, pitting through the box section, or any movement when the rear axle is levered. The 2021 prop shaft damage and 2020 prop shaft joint wear advisories mean the centre bearing and universal joints should be checked for play by hand and listened for at idle and under load, where any rotational thump or vibration through the floor would confirm the advisories have progressed. Finally, the ABS warning lamp failure in 2022 and the 2020 anti-roll bar ball joint play advisory suggest a scan for stored ABS fault codes is sensible, alongside a check for any knocking from the front anti-roll bar links over speed humps and during sharp direction changes.