Used car guide · 2015–2023

Ssangyong Tivoli common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Ssangyong Tivoli, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 21,370 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

21,370MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
8,134on the UK register
2021best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202320222021202020192018201720162015

What usually goes wrong with a Ssangyong Tivoli?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Ssangyong Tivoli in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Ssangyong Tivoli MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Number plate lights

    up to 14.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Braking performance

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Individual direction indicators

    up to 8.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Washers

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Wipers

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Diesel

  • Number plate lights

    up to 12.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 9.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Braking performance

    up to 4.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 4.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Ssangyong Tivoli MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2021 Ssangyong Tivoli did best (82% passed first time, 5 points below all 2021 cars) and the 2018 did worst (72%, 11 points below all 2018 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202283%89% -6557
202182%87% -51,075
202079%87% -81,498
201978%85% -72,246
201872%83% -113,191
201771%80% -93,827
201668%77% -96,042
201566%74% -82,934

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Ssangyong Tivoli

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

  1. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 14.6× as often on the Ssangyong Tivoli as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Ssangyong Tivoli as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 7× as often on the Ssangyong Tivoli as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ssangyong Tivoli?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score