Used car guide · 1995–2022

Ssangyong Musso common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Ssangyong Musso, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 7,349 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

7,349MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
226on the UK register
2020best 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).

202220212020201920182017201619991998199719961995

What usually goes wrong with a Ssangyong Musso?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Ssangyong Musso 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 Musso MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Handbrake performance

    up to 82× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    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 joint

    up to 19.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    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.

  • Brake pads

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    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.

  • Coil springs

    up to 18.6× usual

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

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 16.3× usual

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

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 74× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021 and 2022.

    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.

Ssangyong Musso MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2020 Ssangyong Musso did best (69% passed first time, 18 points below all 2020 cars) and the 2017 did worst (57%, 23 points below all 2017 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202268%89% -21944
202166%87% -211,076
202069%87% -181,143
201963%85% -221,665
201861%83% -221,326
201757%80% -23935
201654%77% -23260 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Ssangyong Musso

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

  1. Any recent work on the handbrake performance? (Flagged at MOT 82× as often on the Ssangyong Musso as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 19.5× as often on the Ssangyong Musso as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Ssangyong Musso as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ssangyong Musso?

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