Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Ssangyong Korando?

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 1998 Ssangyong Korando?

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 1998 Ssangyong Korando?

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 1998 Ssangyong Korando vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% 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 1998 Ssangyong Korando reliable?

Based on MOT data from 463 vehicles, the 1998 Ssangyong Korando has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Ssangyong Korando?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Ssangyong Korando are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (104.8% of vehicles), Service brake: efficiency below requirements (71.1% of vehicles), Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (62.4% 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 1998 Ssangyong Korando?

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 Korando (1998)

463 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.4% first-time pass rate

1998 Ssangyong Korando

CarHunch analysed 463 real MOT records for the 1998 Ssangyong Korando. 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

Moderate sample. 463 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1998 Korando passes its MOT first time in only 65.4% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 33.3% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a red flag for buyers considering older examples. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically, both around 65% pass rates, so fuel type won't improve your odds.

These Korandos typically show 74,854 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, yet they average 3.47 failures and 14 advisories per vehicle, pointing to accumulated wear across multiple systems rather than one specific weak point. If you're seriously interested in one, get a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on structural rust, suspension, and braking components, and budget for immediate remedial work.

The 1998 Ssangyong Korando has a below-average first-time pass rate (65.4% 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

65.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

33.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.47

Over 9.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

75k

Middle half: 62k–88k

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 14 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 463 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 463 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 104.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · …

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

Suspension & steering 62.4%

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front 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 34%

Oil leak

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 463 Ssangyong Korando cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Ssangyong Korando

Based on MOT data from 463 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.3% 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
Petrol (53%)	246	65.2%	3.23
Diesel (46%)	213	65.8%	3.75

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,295 Ssangyong Korando vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 20%

1,662

Black 16.9%

1,404

Grey 14.8%

1,224

Silver 14.7%

1,222

Blue 14.7%

1,217

Red 11.6%

965

Green 4.1%

340

Maroon 2.4%

196

Brown 0.4%

Orange 0.2%

Multi-colour 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Ssangyong Korando 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.

74,854

typical

62,280

low mileage

87,971

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Ssangyong Korando vehicles fall between 62,280 and 87,971 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 62,280 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.

✓ 62,280–87,971 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Ssangyong Korandos sit.

⚠ Over 118,760 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Ssangyong Korando — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 1998 Ssangyong Korandos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (10% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

9.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.47

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Ssangyong →

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Buyer beware — pass it on