Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Ssangyong Rexton vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

58% 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 2008 Ssangyong Rexton reliable?

Based on MOT data from 172 vehicles, the 2008 Ssangyong Rexton has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.1%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Ssangyong Rexton?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Ssangyong Rexton are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (45.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (42.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (42.6% 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 2008 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Ssangyong Rexton (2008)

172 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.1% first-time pass rate

2008 Ssangyong Rexton

CarHunch analysed 172 real MOT records for the 2008 Ssangyong Rexton. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 Compare Models

The 2008 Ssangyong Rexton is a notably weak performer, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 68.1% against the UK average of 80%—and a concerning 58.1% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point. This is a serious reliability red flag that should give any prospective buyer genuine pause.

At around 80,900 miles on average, these eight-year-old models are showing predictably high wear, evidenced by an average of 4.81 failures per test and 24.8 advisories, indicating systemic deterioration across multiple systems. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection by a specialist diesel mechanic, paying particular attention to suspension, brakes, and steering components where the dangerous defects are likely concentrated.

We have limited data for the 2008 Ssangyong Rexton — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

68.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

58.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.81

Over 14.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 66k–95k

For context

These stats describe 172 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 172 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 45.3%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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 33.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

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

Other issues 28.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Lighting 22.1%

Rear fog lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 172 Ssangyong Rexton cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Ssangyong Rexton

Based on MOT data from 172 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 58.1% 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 (99%)	171	68.1%	4.81

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 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.

79,431

typical

65,889

low mileage

95,027

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Ssangyong Rexton vehicles fall between 65,889 and 95,027 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 65,889 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.

✓ 65,889–95,027 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Ssangyong Rextons sit.

⚠ Over 128,286 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Ssangyong Rexton — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 18% of 2008 Ssangyong Rextons are still active.

Numbers are declining — 27 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% 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

14.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.81

Avg failures per vehicle

24.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Ssangyong →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Ssangyong Rexton stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on