2015 Mitsubishi L200 2.5L Diesel · KC15 DHJ

The Mitsubishi L200 presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent test on 14 August 2025 at 81,684 miles passed, but the tester flagged a light oil misting on the offside rear shock absorber and corrosion on both nearside and offside rear suspension mounting areas. These are not new problems. The record shows a clear worsening trend in structural and braking components over the past three years, moving from a clean bill of health in 2024 to a failure in August 2023 and now renewed corrosion and suspension advisories in 2025. The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the trajectory suggests deferred underbody maintenance. The mileage accumulation is consistent and unremarkable. From 64,271 miles in August 2022 to 81,684 miles in August 2025, the truck covered roughly 17,400 miles over three years, averaging about 5,800 miles annually. That sits slightly below the 7,400-mile annualised average implied by the current total, indicating the vehicle may have seen lighter recent use or spent periods standing. The gap between the August 2023 failure at 73,986 miles and the clean pass on 22 August 2024 at 79,280 miles shows approximately 5,300 miles covered in twelve months, which is modest. No alarming mileage spikes or suspiciously large jumps appear in the record. The August 2023 failure is the most technically revealing entry. The tester flagged excessively corroded front-to-rear brake pipes on both sides, a binding nearside front caliper, front brake discs worn to service limits, pads wearing thin, and a 58 per cent front brake imbalance. A corroded brake pipe is a structural safety concern, not a consumable wear item, and the fact that both pipes failed simultaneously points to long-term underbody corrosion exposure rather than isolated damage. The nearside front caliper binding alongside worn discs and pads suggests the braking system was operating under stress for some time before that test. Buyers should have the entire front-to-rear brake pipe run inspected for wall thickness and pitting, and the front calipers should be checked for free movement and piston retraction. The rear suspension tells a parallel story. The 2023 failure noted slight wear in the nearside rear leaf spring shackle pin and bush, and the 2025 pass recorded corrosion on both rear suspension mounting areas at the chassis and crossmember. Leaf spring bush wear and mounting-point corrosion are related failure modes. As the bush degrades, it allows excess movement that accelerates corrosion at the mounting points. A buyer should physically inspect the rear leaf spring shackles, pins, and bushes for play, and examine the chassis rails and crossmembers around the rear suspension mounts for section loss. The offside rear shock absorber oil misting in 2025 is minor at this stage but warrants monitoring. If the misting progresses to a steady leak, damping performance will deteriorate and the unit will need replacement.