Mitsubishi L300
From 338 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 20 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 20 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 13 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 11 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 10 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 9 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 9 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 8 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 7 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 6 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 19.4% of L300 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 25.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £107.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 78.3% while Diesel versions pass at 70.9%, a 7 percentage point gap.
Mitsubishi L300 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 19 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 18. At this rate, roughly 20.2 years until none remain. Now at 4.4% of its peak (7,387 in 1998 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 101 | 222 | +0 | -3 | -3 |
| 2025 Q2 | 105 | 221 | +0 | -5 | -5 |
| 2025 Q1 | 110 | 221 | +0 | -1 | -1 |
| 2024 Q4 | 110 | 222 | +1 | -10 | -9 |
| 2024 Q3 | 114 | 227 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2024 Q2 | 124 | 223 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2024 Q1 | 122 | 224 | +0 | -2 | -2 |
| 2023 Q4 | 123 | 225 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all L300s tested had between 85,295 and 154,244 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 112,427 median miles, the L300 has 0.023 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mitsubishi models
| Mitsubishi L200 | 76.9% |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 80.9% |
| Mitsubishi Shogun | 76.8% |
| Mitsubishi Asx | 79.9% |
| Mitsubishi Colt | 64.6% |
Common questions
What is the Mitsubishi L300 MOT pass rate?
The Mitsubishi L300 has a 74.6% MOT pass rate based on 338 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mitsubishi L300?
The most common MOT failure on the Mitsubishi L300 is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 20 failures. Other common issues include windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen.
How many Mitsubishi L300s are on UK roads?
There are 101 Mitsubishi L300s currently licensed on UK roads, with 222 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mitsubishi L300 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mitsubishi L300 is 112,427 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 85,295 and 154,244 miles.
Buying a used L300?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 74.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £107 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.