Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 Ssangyong Rexton?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2005 Ssangyong Rexton?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2005 Ssangyong Rexton?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2005 Ssangyong Rexton vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

45% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2005 Ssangyong Rexton reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,144 vehicles, the 2005 Ssangyong Rexton has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2005 Ssangyong Rexton?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 Ssangyong Rexton are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.4% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (56.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2005 Ssangyong Rexton?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ssangyong Rexton (2005)

1,144 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67% first-time pass rate

2005 Ssangyong Rexton

CarHunch analysed 1,144 real MOT records for the 2005 Ssangyong Rexton. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2005 Rexton passes its MOT first time in just 67% of cases—13 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—and nearly half of all tested vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a serious concern for any potential buyer. This is a notably unreliable generation, and the risk isn't marginal.

At an average mileage of 75,060 miles for a 19-year-old vehicle, these cars have been driven fairly hard, yet they're still accumulating an average of 5.44 failures per test and a hefty 26.8 advisories, suggesting structural durability problems rather than just age-related wear. Before buying, have any Rexton from this era inspected by a specialist mechanic who knows the model's common faults—the MOT history alone won't tell you whether you're getting a lemon.

The 2005 Ssangyong Rexton has a below-average first-time pass rate (67% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

67%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

45.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.44

Over 16 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

73k

Middle half: 57k–89k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 26.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,144 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,144 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.4%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 56.3%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 44.9%

Rear fog lamp not working · Rear fog lamp tell tale not working · Offside Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 41.8%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 29.7%

Oil leak

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,144 Ssangyong Rexton cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Ssangyong Rexton

Based on MOT data from 1,144 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (98%)	1,116	67%	5.44

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,111 Ssangyong Rexton vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 29.1%

2,071

Silver 27.1%

1,926

Blue 14.1%

1,002

Grey 11.6%

826

White 6.9%

491

Purple 2.9%

205

Maroon 2.5%

181

Green 2.4%

172

Red 1.5%

104

Beige 1.2%

Brown 0.6%

Gold 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Ssangyong Rexton vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

72,832

typical

57,485

low mileage

88,586

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Ssangyong Rexton vehicles fall between 57,485 and 88,586 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,485 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 57,485–88,586 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Ssangyong Rextons sit.

⚠ Over 119,591 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Ssangyong Rexton — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 2005 Ssangyong Rextons are still active.

Numbers are declining — 65 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.44

Avg failures per vehicle

26.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ssangyong Rexton: All Rexton years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Ssangyong →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Ssangyong Rexton stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on