2012 SsangYong Rexton — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 534 MOT tests, the 2012 SsangYong Rexton recorded a 68.0% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 17.6% of the time, so this is 14.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.0%) and brakes (16.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and position lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 45 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 29.8% versus 25.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 91 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 89 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.0% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 45 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.9% | 42 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 23 |
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 | 45 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 45 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 29 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 27 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 24 |
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 | 28.3% | 151 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.0% | 139 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 126 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 102 |
| 5 | Steering | 12.4% | 66 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 62 |
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 | 97 | 25.8% |
| 60-90k | 223 | 34.5% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 47 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 25.2% |
| 2022 | 123 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 109 | 35.8% |
| 2024 | 94 | 34.0% |
| 2025 | 85 | 36.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Rexton
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.7% 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 (14.0% 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 2012 SsangYong Rextons pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 534 2012 SsangYong Rexton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 SsangYong Rexton?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by brakes (16.7%).
Does the 2012 Rexton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.8% in the 30-60k band to 29.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 534 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.