Ssangyong Musso (1998)
1998 Ssangyong Musso
CarHunch analysed 564 real MOT records for the 1998 Ssangyong Musso. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1998 Ssangyong Musso is considerably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 66.8% against the national benchmark of 80%, and nearly a quarter of these vehicles (23.6%) have recorded dangerous defects—a significant concern for any potential buyer. Diesel and petrol variants perform almost identically, both struggling around 67% pass rates, so fuel choice won't improve your odds.
These vehicles are old but show typical mileage for their age at around 92,000 miles on average, yet they're accumulating serious problems: owners face an average of 2.72 failures and 10.8 advisories per test, suggesting mechanical wear across multiple systems. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the structural and safety items that have historically failed these cars, and budget for immediate repairs rather than assuming a "clean" example exists.
What to check before buying a 1998 Ssangyong Musso
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 23.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Ssangyong Musso
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (53%) | 301 | 67.2% | 2.75 |
| Petrol (46%) | 257 | 66.4% | 2.66 |
| LPG (1%) | 6 | 67.2% | 3.5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 Ssangyong Musso vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1998 Ssangyong Musso vehicles fall between 78,550 and 116,950 miles.
1998 Ssangyong Musso — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (14% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Ssangyong Musso
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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56.2%
Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play
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54.8%
Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play
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47.1%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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46%
Oil leak
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30.9%
Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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27.1%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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26.9%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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26.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ssangyong Musso?
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