2015 Ssangyong Rexton 2.0L Diesel · OU15 AXB

A pattern of recurring front suspension wear and persistent electrical faults dominates the MOT history of this Rexton. Across four of the six recorded tests, advisories or failures point to front anti-roll bar linkages and upper suspension arm ball joints showing progressive play, with the steering rack inner joints also flagged in 2022. The most recent test on 16 June 2026 was a pass, but it carried five advisories including worn anti-roll bar linkage bushes on the front, a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on its edge, and two electrical items: a supplementary restraint system warning lamp that does not illuminate, and a non-obligatory central stop lamp not working. Just a week earlier, the same vehicle failed its test on major defects including an insecure offside front bumper, a non-functioning rear fog lamp, and an offside headlamp not working on dipped beam. The repeated minor for an inoperative offside registration plate lamp across 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 suggests an unresolved electrical concern rather than a one-off bulb failure, and the central stop lamp and supplementary restraint system warning lamp issues currently outstanding remain unrectified. With 139,557 miles recorded over approximately eleven years, this Rexton averages around 12,687 miles annually, which is a notably high accumulation for a vehicle of this age. The mileage progression across the six tests from 2022 to 2026 indicates steady, sustained use rather than any long stationary periods, which means consumables, suspension bushes, brake components and drivetrain mountings will have all been worked consistently. There are no significant gaps in the testing record, so the mileage can be considered broadly continuous and representative of a working vehicle rather than one with intermittent use. High annual mileage on a ladder-frame SUV of this age places additional demand on the suspension, steering and braking components, which aligns with the recurring advisories on front-end wear items. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension is the area requiring the most thorough physical inspection, given the repeated advisories on anti-roll bar linkage pins and bushes along with upper suspension arm ball joint play. On a test drive, listen for knocking or clonking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, particularly from the offside, and feel for any vagueness or delay in steering response that could indicate worn inner steering rack joints, as flagged in 2022. Pay close attention to any clunking when turning at low speed, which would suggest the ball joint play has worsened, and inspect the anti-roll bar links visually for perished or split rubber bushes. The tyres should also be examined closely, as the 2024 test recorded both rear tyres worn in the centre and the 2026 test recorded a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on its edge, which may indicate a tracking or alignment issue that warrants a four-wheel alignment check before new tyres are fitted. The electrical defects raised across multiple tests should be investigated by a competent technician prior to purchase. The supplementary restraint system warning lamp not illuminating is a safety-critical concern, as the airbag system may not flag a fault to the driver in the event of a malfunction, and this requires diagnostic scanning to confirm the SRS system is functioning correctly. The non-functioning central stop lamp, rear fog lamp failure and headlamp dipped beam failure from recent tests all point to potential wiring or switch issues, and a full lighting check should be carried out. The offside registration plate lamp has been flagged in four consecutive tests, which strongly suggests a broken wiring connection or a fault at the lamp holder rather than a simple bulb replacement. Finally, the bodywork should be examined for corrosion, particularly around the rear bumper mounting where damage has been recorded, and underneath the vehicle for any rust on the chassis, subframe and brake pipes, as high-mileage Rextons of this vintage are known to develop structural corrosion that would influence its long-term roadworthiness.