2018 SsangYong Korando — MOT failures & pass rate
4,368 MOT tests on the 2018 SsangYong Korando are in this dataset, and 85.5% of them passed. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests against 4.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), wipers and stop lamp — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 258 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.9% versus 10.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 375 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 213 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.6% | 201 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 166 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 123 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 50 |
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) | 258 |
| 2 | Wipers | 166 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 121 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 89 |
| 5 | Washers | 88 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 81 |
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 | 22.0% | 962 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.7% | 947 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 346 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 280 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 172 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 131 |
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 | 1,762 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,996 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 504 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 88 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,981 | 14.5% |
| Petrol | 387 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 853 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 863 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 896 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 873 | 15.6% |
| 2025 | 883 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Korando
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% 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.
- Visibility (4.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 SsangYong Korandos pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 4,368 2018 SsangYong Korando MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 SsangYong Korando?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by brakes (4.9%).
Does the 2018 Korando get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,368 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.