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Mitsubishi2000–2022 Critical issues documented

Mitsubishi L300: common faults & what to check

Thinking about buying a used Mitsubishi L300 (2000–2022) in New Zealand? We've documented 6 known faults for this model spanning engine, body & rust, cooling, and electrical. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Every one is listed below with its symptoms and repair cost, and each has its own page with where to look and what to ask the seller. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Mitsubishi L300

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

6

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$400–$3,500

Typical repair

4

Systems covered

Which Mitsubishi L300 are you looking at?

1 generation variant documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Which engine is in it? These cover every year of this model.

2.4L petrol (4G64)· 2.4 litre petrol

Start your free check on this Mitsubishi L300

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Mitsubishi L300

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Can't confirm for this car

Mitsubishi L300

Nothing has been narrowed yet, so nothing below is a claim about a particular car. Pick a year and an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

matched on no vehicle context

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a Mitsubishi L300 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

  • Serious issue

    Ask for a timing belt and water pump receipt.

    See why

    4G64 2.4 timing belt neglect (interference engine — snap bends valves)

    The 2.4 4G64 in the SJ/L300 Express is a belt-driven interference engine, so a snapped timing belt bends valves and causes major internal damage. These cheap working vans often have unknown belt history, and the water pump (driven by the same belt) is frequently ignored too. Owners report belts letting go on start-up. Treat an Express with no belt receipts as due for a full timing belt and water pump service.

    What you would notice

    • No records for the timing belt
    • Coolant weep behind the timing cover from the water pump
    • Rough running
    • Crank but no start after a belt failure

    Typically $550–$5,000 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Check the door bottoms and rear quarters.

    See why

    Structural rust in floor, sills and jacking points (WoF failure)

    As an old commercial van, the SJ/L300 Express rusts in the floor pan, sills, door bottoms, jacking points and around the rear loading area. Vans that carried wet or loose loads are the worst. Structural corrosion in these areas fails a NZ Warrant of Fitness and can be genuinely unsafe, and the repair cost can exceed the value of the van.

    What you would notice

    • Bubbling paint on sills and door bottoms
    • Flaky or perforated floor
    • Damp cabin or cargo area
    • Evidence of previous filler

    Typically $300–$4,000 to put right.

  • Costly issue

    Check the coolant colour and condition and look into the radiator for blockage.

    See why

    Cooling-system corrosion and overheating (head-gasket risk)

    The L300/Express builds up internal scale and rust that blocks the radiator and causes overheating, which is worse on hills or when loaded because the cab-over layout gives the engine marginal cooling. Owners describe flushing several hundred grams of rust out of the system — clear-looking coolant does not mean a clean system. Sustained overheating readily blows the head gasket on this engine, turning a cheap flush into a big job.

    What you would notice

    • Temperature climbs on hills or under load
    • Coolant loss
    • Heater underperforms
    • Brown or rusty coolant

    Typically $400–$3,500 to put right.

See all 6 documented issuesEverything researched for the Mitsubishi L300, including 1 rated critical.
Depends on which engine this Mitsubishi L300 has — 3Each of these is documented for one particular engine. Pick the year and engine above to see which of them apply.
Engine, transmission & cooling2

014G64 2.4 timing belt neglect (interference engine — snap bends valves)

Ask for a timing belt and water pump receipt.petrol2000–2013Engine
CommonEngine $550–$5,000 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The 2.4 4G64 in the SJ/L300 Express is a belt-driven interference engine, so a snapped timing belt bends valves and causes major internal damage. These cheap working vans often have unknown belt history, and the water pump (driven by the same belt) is frequently ignored too. Owners report belts letting go on start-up. Treat an Express with no belt receipts as due for a full timing belt and water pump service.

Symptoms to notice

  • No records for the timing belt
  • Coolant weep behind the timing cover from the water pump
  • Rough running
  • Crank but no start after a belt failure

What to check

  1. Ask for a timing belt and water pump receipt.
  2. Look for coolant weeping behind the timing cover.
  3. Listen for a tensioner rattle at idle.
  4. If there is no belt history, budget for the job immediately.

Where to look: Front of the engine timing cover; water pump sits behind the belt

Parts involved: Timing belt.

Ask the seller

  • “When was the timing belt and water pump last replaced?”
  • “Do you have receipts for the cambelt service?”

02Cooling-system corrosion and overheating (head-gasket risk)

Check the coolant colour and condition and look into the radiator for blockage.petrol2000–2013CoolingRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Body, brakes, suspension & interior1

01Structural rust in floor, sills and jacking points (WoF failure)

Check the door bottoms and rear quarters.petrol2000–2013Body & Rust
Very commonBody & Rust $300–$4,000 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

As an old commercial van, the SJ/L300 Express rusts in the floor pan, sills, door bottoms, jacking points and around the rear loading area. Vans that carried wet or loose loads are the worst. Structural corrosion in these areas fails a NZ Warrant of Fitness and can be genuinely unsafe, and the repair cost can exceed the value of the van.

Symptoms to notice

  • Bubbling paint on sills and door bottoms
  • Flaky or perforated floor
  • Damp cabin or cargo area
  • Evidence of previous filler

What to check

Check the door bottoms and rear quarters. Look underneath for perforation. A magnet helps find filler over rusted-through areas. If a workshop inspection is possible: Lift the floor mats and load liner and probe the sills and jacking points.

Where to look: Floor pan, sills, door bottoms, jacking points and rear cargo area

Parts involved: Chassis and structural rust.

Ask the seller

  • “Have any rust repairs or welding been done?”
  • “Does it hold a current WoF?”
  • “Has water ever leaked into the cab or cargo area?”
Other Mitsubishi L300 engines and years3 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.
Engine, transmission & cooling2

01Renault 1.6/2.0 dCi DPF blockage and oil dilution

Pull the dipstick and check the oil level and smell — over-full or diesel-smelling oil points to dilution.diesel2020–2022EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02EGR clogging and AdBlue/SCR faults

Scan for EGR and SCR codes.diesel2020–2022Engine
CommonEngine $400–$1,600 to fix

Does not apply

On the dCi diesel the EGR valve carbon-fouls with soot, causing rough idle, reduced power, higher fuel use and engine-management lights. On AdBlue-equipped variants, SCR faults trigger a 'no engine start in XXX km' countdown, usually from a tank, injector or sensor problem. Ignored EGR or SCR issues put the van into limp mode or, on the AdBlue countdown, eventually prevent it from restarting.

Symptoms to notice

  • Rough idle
  • Limp mode / reduced power
  • Engine management light
  • 'No engine start in XXX km' AdBlue warning
  • Sluggish acceleration

What to check

  1. Scan for EGR and SCR codes.
  2. Check the dash for any AdBlue warning or countdown message.
  3. Watch idle quality and note any limp-mode behaviour on the test drive.

Where to look: EGR valve on the intake, AdBlue tank and SCR injector in the exhaust

Parts involved: EGR valve.

Ask the seller

  • “Any AdBlue warnings or limp-mode events?”
  • “Has the EGR valve been cleaned or replaced?”
Electrical1

01Zero-star ANCAP safety rating (no AEB / no lane support)

Confirm the absence of AEB and lane support in the spec sheet.diesel2020–2022Electrical
Very commonElectrical $0 to fix

Does not apply

The GN Express is a rebadged third-generation Renault Trafic and in 2021 became the first new model to score a ZERO-star ANCAP rating, mainly because it lacked autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and any lane-support system, alongside marginal physical-protection scores. This is a design and specification limitation rather than a repairable fault, but it is a defining ownership consideration — many fleets and workplace health-and-safety policies now exclude the vehicle, which also hurts resale.

Symptoms to notice

  • No autonomous emergency braking
  • No lane-keep or lane-support system
  • Only a basic active-safety suite

What to check

Confirm the absence of AEB and lane support in the spec sheet. If the van is for work or fleet use, check it against your organisation's health-and-safety vehicle policy before buying.

Where to look: Whole-vehicle active-safety systems

Ask the seller

  • “Are you aware of the zero-star ANCAP rating?”
  • “Is a vehicle with no AEB acceptable for your fleet or H&S policy?”

Mitsubishi L300 faults in detail

Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

Cooling-system corrosion and overheating (head-gasket risk)Major · CoolingRenault 1.6/2.0 dCi DPF blockage and oil dilutionMajor · Engine

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Mitsubishi L300’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Other Mitsubishi models

Mitsubishi Outlander47 documented faultsMitsubishi Lancer39 documented faultsMitsubishi Pajero39 documented faultsMitsubishi Lancer Evolution X6 documented faultsMitsubishi Legnum6 documented faultsMitsubishi Montero Sport6 documented faults

Mitsubishi L300 buyer questions

Is the Mitsubishi L300 reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 6 documented faults for the Mitsubishi L300, the recurring problem areas are engine, body & rust, and cooling. A Mitsubishi L300 with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Mitsubishi L300?

We've catalogued 6 known faults for the Mitsubishi L300, covering engine, body & rust, and cooling. All 6 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Mitsubishi L300?

Most single repairs on the Mitsubishi L300 fall between $400–$3,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 6 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Mitsubishi L300?

Yes. A Mitsubishi L300 inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.