Used car guide

2021 Ssangyong Musso: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Ssangyong Mussos, from 559 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

559MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
11,100typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

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

  • Brake pads3× usual
    Ssangyong Musso
    20.6% All 2021 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 1.2% 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.

  • Handbrake performancenull× usual
    Ssangyong Musso
    10.9% All 2021 cars
    0%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.9%, against 0% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Ball joint17.7× usual
    Ssangyong Musso
    10.6% All 2021 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

  • Rear fog light70× usual
    Ssangyong Musso
    7% All 2021 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 0.1% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 3.6% here, against 11.5% of all 2021 cars.

By area

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

  • Brakes
    37% 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
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    19% 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.

  • Suspension
    18% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    4% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022921Brakes 33%
2019560Brakes 42%

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