2004 Mitsubishi L200 Double CAB 2.5L Diesel · F11 RBA

A pattern of chronic advisories relating to the front anti-roll bar, oil leaks, and underbody brake pipe corrosion defines the mechanical profile of this L200 across the recorded MOT history, with the most recent test on 1 December 2025 reflecting that theme rather than suggesting any clean roadworthiness. The 2025 pass carries four advisories on the front anti-roll bar pins, bushes, and linkage wear, mirroring the same components flagged on the 2024 test, and the offside front pin was upgraded to a Major and Dangerous category defect at a re-test on 27 November 2023 after having been allowed to deteriorate through earlier advisories. This represents a clear escalation pattern rather than a transient issue, and the same nearside front anti-roll bar pin reappeared as an advisory in 2024 and 2025, indicating that the worn component on the opposite side was replaced but the underlying linkage wear is a fleet-wide characteristic of this vehicle. Two separate Dangerous tyre failures on the rear pair in November 2023 are also notable, as exposure of ply or cords reflects a serious safety shortfall that had previously been developing through the 2-3 mm nearside rear tread advisory recorded in 2021. Combined with the recurring oil leak advisories present at every test since at least 2020, the pattern shows ongoing deterioration of consumable and chassis components that has not been resolved at its source. With 176,299 recorded miles accumulated across approximately 22 years, this L200 has averaged around 8,014 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a working double cab of this era and points to consistent rather than sporadic use. The MOT tests are recorded annually from 2020 through 2025 without any multi-year gaps in testing, which means the vehicle has remained on the road and in regular service throughout the visible history. There are no sudden jumps in recorded mileage between consecutive tests that would suggest clock anomalies or extended off-road periods, and the steady annual accumulation aligns with the pattern of wear found across the underbody, suspension, and braking components. At this mileage, items such as engine seals, suspension bushes, leaf spring shackle pins, and flexible exhaust sections are all expected to require attention on a vehicle of this type, and the MOT history shows those exact components being flagged year after year. For a prospective buyer, the front anti-roll bar wear warrants close physical inspection; on a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed bumps and uneven surfaces, and have an assistant rock the vehicle while you watch for any free play or excessive movement at the anti-roll bar drop links and bushes. The nearside rear leaf spring shackle pin and bush was first noted in 2021 and again in 2024, so the rear suspension should be checked for sagging, uneven ride height, or a harsh, crashing feel over undulating roads. The brake pipe corrosion advisories covering the nearside rear pipe in 2022, the central rear pipe in 2020, and the load valve pipes in 2021 indicate progressive surface corrosion along the underbody brake lines, which on a vehicle of this age and mileage should be inspected from underneath for pitting, flaking, or any active weeps, and the pedal should be checked for a spongy or low feel under firm pressure. The exhaust flexi minor leak flagged in 2024 should be listened for at idle and under load as a ticking or hissing noise from the central exhaust area, and the underbody examined for any black soot deposits near the joint. The oil leak advisory has been recorded at every single test from 2020 to 2025, which suggests a persistent but not yet excessive seepage from somewhere on the engine or gearbox, and a buyer should look for fresh oil residue on the undertray, sump, and surrounding components, as well as checking the coolant and oil levels on a cold engine before viewing. The 2023 re-test stop lamp and rear indicator failures are typically straightforward electrical issues, but the nearside rear direction indicator was also noted as discoloured in 2021 and 2022, so confirm all rear lighting functions correctly and that the lenses have not been allowed to deteriorate further. Given the dangerous tyre failures in 2023 and the recurring rear tread advisories, the spare should be present, secured, and at a legal tread depth, and any remaining tyres should be checked for age-related cracking in the sidewalls as well as even wear across the axle. Taken together, the recurring advisories on the same chassis, brake, and sealing components indicate a vehicle that remains on the road through regular attention to individual wear items, and a thorough pre-purchase inspection underneath, combined with a careful test drive focusing on suspension noise, brake feel, and exhaust integrity, is strongly advised.