SsangYong Rexton MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 21 model years and 21,198 tests, the SsangYong Rexton passes its MOT 74.8% of the time. Against large SUVs of a similar age (15.0% fail rate), the Rexton comes out 10.2pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst Rexton years
Ranked across Rexton years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 84.7% of 2019 examples pass against 66.9% of 2009 ones.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and brakes (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, coil spring and brake pads — track rod end alone was recorded 1,113 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.8% in the 0-30k band and 33.3% in the 150k+ band, a 20.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.9% in 2021 to 23.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rexton model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 96 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 715 | 66.0% | 34.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 1,232 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 750 | 66.3% | 33.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 572 | 67.1% | 32.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 430 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 1,107 | 66.9% | 33.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 244 | 66.4% | 33.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 181 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 534 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 115 | 74.8% | 25.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 2,482 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 2,559 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Suspension |
| 2016 | 2,317 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Suspension |
| 2017 | 2,809 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 2,018 | 83.4% | 16.7% | Brakes |
| 2019 | 1,343 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Brakes |
| 2020 | 667 | 84.1% | 15.9% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 671 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 355 | 86.5% | 13.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 2,752 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 2,416 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 2,348 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.5% | 1,161 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 835 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 814 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.3% | 692 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.1% | 445 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 1,113 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 942 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 903 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 845 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 826 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 792 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 778 |
| 8 | Ball joint | 754 |
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 | 28.4% | 6,019 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.0% | 4,237 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.0% | 4,230 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 2,396 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.6% | 1,827 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 1,798 |
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 | 3,146 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,901 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,499 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,610 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,501 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 501 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,142 | 25.2% |
| Petrol | 51 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,358 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 4,307 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 4,211 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 4,149 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 4,173 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a SsangYong Rexton
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 (11.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the SsangYong Rexton?
74.8% of the 21,198 SsangYong Rexton MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.2% fail rate, across model years 2003–2023.
What does the SsangYong Rexton most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, then brakes (11.4%).
Which Rexton years are best and worst for MOT results?
2019 has the best pass rate at 84.7% and 2009 the weakest at 66.9%, from 1,343 and 1,107 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Rexton MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.3% for 150k+, a 20.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,198 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.