2012 Mitsubishi L200 2.5L Diesel · VO62 JBU

This Mitsubishi L200 has demonstrated a mixed but ultimately concerning maintenance trend over the past two years, with the most recent MOT on 2025-12-17 —just seven months ago—showing a clean pass despite a minor electrical failure (offside front position lamp) on the same day. The pattern reveals repeated suspension and brake issues, particularly with rear shock absorbers and front brake pads, which were either failing or nearing failure in multiple tests. The 2025-01-02 failure was the most severe, with both rear shock absorbers flagged for excessive bush wear, front pads classified as "wearing thin," and rear fog lamp mounting defects. While the vehicle passed the 2024-01-05 test, it did so with the same rear shock absorber bush advisories, suggesting these components have been under stress for at least two years without resolution. The 2025-01-03 pass, just a day before the failure, further indicates the tester may have overlooked critical faults, as the same issues reappeared shortly after. The mileage progression of 14,000 miles between tests in 2024 and 20,000 miles between tests in early 2025 suggests moderate usage, though the 10,154 miles logged between January and December 2025 implies a period of lower activity. This could reflect seasonal use or temporary storage, which may have allowed some wear to accumulate unnoticed. The absence of MOT tests between 2023 and 2024 —a full year gap—raises questions about whether the vehicle was off the road entirely or simply not tested during that period. Such gaps make it difficult to assess whether critical components like brakes or suspension were addressed outside the MOT cycle. A buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the rear suspension , particularly the shock absorbers and their mounting bushes, as these were repeatedly flagged between 2024 and 2025 . The front brake pads were classified as "wearing thin" in two consecutive tests, indicating they may have been pushed beyond their serviceable limit before the last pass. The rear fog lamp mounting issues suggest potential structural looseness in the rear valance, which could escalate into more serious detachment risks. Electrical faults, while minor, were persistent—particularly the registration plate lamp—so the wiring harness and bulb connections should be checked for corrosion or fraying. Given the vehicle’s age and the recurring advisories, a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist would be advisable to confirm whether the suspension and brakes have been properly serviced since the last MOT.