2009 SsangYong Rexton — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,107 MOT tests, the 2009 SsangYong Rexton recorded a 66.9% pass rate. That is 11.8 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 21.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.1%) and suspension (19.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 88 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.6% versus 27.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.4% in 2021 to 31.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 223 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.9% | 220 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.1% | 156 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 111 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.8% | 98 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 70 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 88 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 86 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 85 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 67 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 63 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 62 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.4% | 381 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.8% | 297 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.7% | 240 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.1% | 234 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 145 |
| 6 | Steering | 11.3% | 125 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 62 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 319 | 33.2% |
| 90-120k | 489 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 184 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 332 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 276 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 231 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 168 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 100 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Rexton
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.9% 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.
- Brakes (14.1% 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.
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 2009 SsangYong Rextons pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 1,107 2009 SsangYong Rexton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 SsangYong Rexton?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by suspension (19.9%).
Does the 2009 Rexton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.4% in the 30-60k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,107 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.