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Mitsubishi Legnum Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mitsubishi Legnum car check

Is the Mitsubishi Legnum reliable? We analysed 3,624 real MOT tests across 365 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,624 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.4%
Typical Mileage
102,905mi
Annual Mileage
4,415mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Mitsubishi Legnum is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive and steering rack gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mitsubishi Legnum.

Mitsubishi Legnum Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mitsubishi Legnum. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mitsubishi Legnum MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mitsubishi Legnum to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

71.8%
2010
66%
2009
69%
2008
71.4%
2007
66.1%
2006
71.4%
2005
72.4%
2004
69.2%
2003
68.3%
2002
67.2%
2001
71.8%
2000
70.2%
1999
67.1%
1998
69.7%
1997
68.9%
1996

Mitsubishi Legnum Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mitsubishi Legnum fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 157
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 150
Steering rack gaiter split 139
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 134
position lamp(s) not working 114
fog lamp not working 110
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 96
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 89
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 78
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 74

Mitsubishi Legnum Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mitsubishi Legnum owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,131 mi/yr
Typical
4,415 mi/yr
Average
5,707 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,540 mi/yr

Mitsubishi Legnum MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mitsubishi Legnum year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 234 71.8% 79,752 107,788 130,554
2009 206 66.0% 99,859 114,124 138,692
2008 393 69.0% 90,950 120,085 147,039
2007 318 71.4% 84,041 106,386 134,728
2006 177 66.1% 82,974 99,879 119,943
2005 154 71.4% 82,992 95,307 113,489
2004 163 72.4% 72,877 86,392 121,946
2003 52 69.2% 58,517 79,268 89,975
2002 183 68.3% 75,521 95,049 107,473
2001 195 67.2% 73,998 96,802 131,418
2000 78 71.8% 77,876 94,345 128,630
1999 161 70.2% 65,444 89,467 124,457
1998 152 67.1% 88,038 110,443 132,982
1997 482 69.7% 76,576 107,059 143,406
1996 556 68.9% 78,564 100,412 121,212

How Long Does a Mitsubishi Legnum Last?

Based on 365 Mitsubishi Legnum vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.2 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Mitsubishi Legnum Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mitsubishi Legnum MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
102,905 mi
75th Percentile
130,496 mi
95th Percentile
176,326 mi
Max Recorded
912,310 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mitsubishi Legnum

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2004

72.4% MOT pass rate from 163 tests

Year to avoid
2009

66.0% MOT pass rate from 206 tests

The best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Legnum is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.4% across 163 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mitsubishi Legnum Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mitsubishi Legnum THIS CAR 69.4% 3,624 102,905 mi 30 yrs
Mitsubishi L200 74.1% 1,362,678 80,302 mi 29 yrs
Mitsubishi Shogun 71.9% 1,312,716 107,142 mi 37 yrs
Mitsubishi Colt 72.5% 950,325 59,666 mi 30 yrs
Volkswagen Up GTI 88.3% 6,914 19,316 mi — yrs

Compared to the Mitsubishi L200 (74.1% pass rate) and the Mitsubishi Shogun (71.9% pass rate), the Mitsubishi Legnum trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mitsubishi Legnum?

The Mitsubishi Legnum has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.4% across 3,624 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Mitsubishi Legnum are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (157 recorded failures), exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (150), and steering rack gaiter split (139). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Mitsubishi Legnum owner drives around 4,415 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Mitsubishi Legnum models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mitsubishi Legnum — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mitsubishi Legnum reliable?
Based on 3,624 MOT tests, the Mitsubishi Legnum has a 69.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Mitsubishi Legnum?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, and steering rack gaiter split. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mitsubishi Legnum do per year?
The typical Mitsubishi Legnum does around 4,415 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mitsubishi Legnum last?
Most Mitsubishi Legnum models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 365 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mitsubishi Legnum?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mitsubishi Legnum?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Legnum is 2004 with a 72.4% pass rate across 163 tests.