2015 SsangYong Korando — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 SsangYong Korando passed 76.8% of its 8,798 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (15.7% fail rate), the 2015 Korando comes out 7.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), stop lamp and rbt (sp) — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 554 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.5% versus 14.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 1,236 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 941 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 687 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 507 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 425 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 245 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 554 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 460 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 363 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 351 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 345 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 269 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.0% | 2,466 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.4% | 2,233 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 1,157 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.7% | 1,118 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.0% | 794 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 614 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 573 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,551 | 19.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,405 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,009 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 213 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,790 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 1,797 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 1,769 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 1,747 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 1,695 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Korando
On a 2015 Korando, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 SsangYong Korandos pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 8,798 2015 SsangYong Korando MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 SsangYong Korando?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 2015 Korando get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,798 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.