2015 SsangYong Rexton — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 SsangYong Rexton passed 73.3% of its 2,559 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 13.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.5%) and lighting & signalling (12.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, coil spring and rbt (sp) — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 196 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 44.2% versus 13.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 346 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 327 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.5% | 319 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.7% | 145 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.2% | 107 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 98 |
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 dust cover | 196 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 168 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 151 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 145 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 132 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 110 |
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 | 27.4% | 702 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.5% | 524 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.5% | 498 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 349 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 176 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 136 |
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 | 120 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 946 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 975 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 380 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 94 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 43 | 44.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 505 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 520 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 516 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 514 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 504 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Rexton
On a 2015 Rexton, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.5% 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 2015 SsangYong Rextons pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 2,559 2015 SsangYong Rexton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 SsangYong Rexton?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.8%).
Does the 2015 Rexton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 44.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,559 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.