Used car guide

2021 Ssangyong Rexton: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Ssangyong Rexton first registered in 2021: we looked at the 666 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

666MOTs of 2021 cars, done in 2023–2025
84%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,800typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for brake pads

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 Ssangyong Rexton?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 Ssangyong Rexton than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake pads3× usual
    Ssangyong Rexton
    18.5% All 2021 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.1% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

Common 2021 Ssangyong Rexton MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Ssangyong Rexton MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    21% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Suspension
    4% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2021 Ssangyong Rexton

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 2021 Ssangyong Rexton as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ssangyong Rexton?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Ssangyong Rexton compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022368Tyres 28%
2020645Brakes 31%
2019968Brakes 30%
20181,027Brakes 32%
20171,349Brakes 31%
20161,123Suspension 40%
20151,191Suspension 42%
20141,078Suspension 50%
2013–Too few tests
2012261Suspension 50%
2011–Too few tests
2010–Too few tests
2009396Suspension 54%
2008142Suspension 66%
2007179Suspension 53%
2006224Brakes 49%
2005359Brakes 49%
2004209Lights and electrics 56%
2003–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Ssangyong Rexton cars first registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score