2013 Mitsubishi L200 2.5L Diesel · WG62 DXE

The Mitsubishi L200 holds a valid MOT certificate issued on 6 August 2025 at 161,214 miles, but the maintenance trend is best described as reactive rather than consistently improving. The vehicle failed its 2025 test on 4 August for an inoperative engine MIL, excessively worn front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, and a worn offside rear tyre. It passed two days later at the identical mileage, suggesting the defects were rectified only after failure. This pattern of failing and retesting within days has occurred before, most notably in August 2023 when the truck failed on an ABS warning lamp, missing steering rack gaiters on both sides, and excessively worn front suspension arm ball joints, then passed five days later. The repeated cycle of failure followed by a swift pass indicates previous owners have tended to address faults only when legally compelled, rather than maintaining the vehicle proactively between tests. The mileage accumulation tells a clear story of sustained high use. The vehicle has covered 161,214 miles over roughly thirteen years, averaging approximately 12,401 miles per year. The record shows 129,543 miles in August 2023 and 143,500 miles in August 2024, a gain of 13,957 miles in twelve months. By August 2025 the odometer read 161,214, a further jump of 17,714 miles in a single year, representing a notable acceleration in use. This is a working vehicle that has been driven hard and consistently, and the MOT history is relatively sparse for a truck of this type, with only five recorded tests spanning three years. The gap between 2023 and 2024 is a standard annual cycle, but the absence of any recorded mileage increase between the failed and passed tests in August 2025 is worth noting, as it suggests the vehicle was stationary during that repair window. A buyer inspecting this L200 in person should focus on the front suspension and steering components, which have been a recurring source of defects. The 2023 failure flagged both front upper suspension arm ball joints, with the nearside joint deemed likely to become detached, and both steering rack gaiters were missing entirely, exposing the rack to dirt and moisture ingress. The 2025 failure identified excessively worn anti-roll bar linkage ball joints on both sides. These repeated front-end issues point to a vehicle that has endured significant stress on its suspension geometry. A physical inspection should check for play in all front ball joints, condition of the anti-roll bar links and bushes, and whether the steering rack gaiters are intact and properly sealed. Given the 17,714 miles covered in the most recent year alone, the condition of the front wheel bearings and track rod ends should also be assessed. The braking and running gear deserve equal scrutiny. The 2023 test recorded an ABS warning lamp indicating a system fault, which was cleared before the pass five days later, but the root cause was never documented. A buyer should verify the ABS system is fully operational and check for corrosion on ABS sensors and wiring, particularly given the truck's likely exposure to off-road or commercial use. The engine MIL fault flagged in 2025 raises questions about unresolved emissions or engine management issues that may have been simply reset rather than diagnosed. A live diagnostic scan would reveal any stored or pending fault codes. Finally, the offside rear tyre wear noted in 2025 suggests possible alignment issues or a suspension geometry deviation on that corner, which should be checked with a four-wheel alignment measurement before purchase.