SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate T MOT pass rate & common failures
The SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate T appears in 1,405 MOT tests spanning model years 2020–2023, and 89.7% of them passed. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.6%. Its most common failure areas are visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.8%) and tyres (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 94 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.7% in 2023 to 10.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Tivoli Ultimate T model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 245 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Visibility |
| 2021 | 662 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Visibility |
| 2022 | 486 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.8% | 82 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.1% | 57 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 51 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 45 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 4 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 3 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 94 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 44 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 10 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 8 |
| 7 | Reversing lamps | 8 |
| 8 | Washers | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.1% | 310 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 203 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 81 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 53 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 34 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 11 |
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 | 1,087 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 298 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 79 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 421 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 904 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate T
- Visibility (5.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Tivoli Ultimate T?
89.7% of the 1,405 SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate T MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.3% fail rate, across model years 2020–2023.
What does the SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate T most often fail its MOT on?
Visibility, recorded in 5.8% of tests, then tyres (4.1%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,405 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.