2016 SsangYong Rexton — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 SsangYong Rexton passed 76.2% of its 2,317 recorded MOT tests. That is 11.3 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 12.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.1%) and lighting & signalling (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, track rod end and ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 149 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.0% once past 120-150k — 2.6× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.1% | 257 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 255 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 174 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.0% | 139 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 76 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 66 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 149 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 149 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 114 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 105 |
| 5 | Wipers | 73 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 69 |
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 | 26.6% | 616 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.6% | 477 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.6% | 430 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 281 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.4% | 148 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.7% | 133 |
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 | 240 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,062 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 737 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 217 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 426 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 472 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 476 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 490 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 453 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Rexton
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 2016 SsangYong Rextons pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 2,317 2016 SsangYong Rexton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 SsangYong Rexton?
Suspension, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.0%).
Does the 2016 Rexton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,317 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.