2016 SsangYong Tivoli — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,196 MOT tests, the 2016 SsangYong Tivoli recorded an 82.1% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 14.1% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.4%) and tyres (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), brake pads and wipers — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 786 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.8% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (18.9% vs 16.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 1,152 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.4% | 905 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 866 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 596 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 320 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 230 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 786 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 462 |
| 3 | Wipers | 350 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 334 |
| 5 | Washers | 327 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 288 |
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 | 27.3% | 3,330 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.8% | 3,022 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 1,461 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 943 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.2% | 631 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 430 |
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 | 2,374 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 6,246 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,872 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 544 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 113 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,195 | 18.9% |
| Petrol | 4,996 | 16.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,387 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 2,425 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 2,490 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 2,479 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 2,415 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Tivoli
On a 2016 Tivoli, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.4% 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.
- Brakes (7.1% 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 2016 SsangYong Tivolis pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 12,196 2016 SsangYong Tivoli MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 SsangYong Tivoli?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by tyres (7.4%).
Does the 2016 Tivoli get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,196 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.