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Ssangyong Musso Problems

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Used Ssangyong Musso review: 1996-1998
By Graham Smith · 29 Jan 2009
The promise of Mercedes Benz quality at a Korean price was an attractive proposition that drew many buyers to the SsangYong Musso. The Korean-built four-wheel drive wagon was imported first by Mercedes-Benz and sold through ’Benz dealers, giving the Musso an instant credibility few Korean cars enjoyed.Although there were lots of Korean makes and models being sold here, they were typically cheap and cheerful cars that appealed to those with a severely limited budget. With its Mercedes connection the Musso caused a rethink of what Korean cars were.MODEL WATCHWhen it arrived the Musso brought with it some distinctly Asian styling. In a market used to four-wheel drive wagons with fairly straight lines and boxy shapes, the Musso’s angular shape stood out.Back then it was case of love it or leave it, but compared to some of the four-wheel drives that now fill showrooms to overflowing the Musso fits right in.The Musso had a head start in terms of credibility. Although the SsangYong name was new to this country, the fact that it was being imported and sold here by Mercedes-Benz made it acceptable in some minds that would otherwise have dismissed it as just another cheap import from Seoul.At the time SsangYong and Mercedes were involved in a joint venture with the German star marque providing the Korean company with technology, and access to engines that had been superseded in the Mercedes range.SsangYong was also able to source components from the same suppliers as Mercedes so the quality came indirectly as well as through the front door.The Musso was a four-wheel drive wagon of a size similar to the Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Pajero and Jeep Cherokee, the very models that were beginning to power the push to four-wheel drives for every day round town use.At launch there was a choice of petrol or diesel engines, both with strong Mercedes-Benz connections. The double overhead camshaft, four valve, 3.2-litre fuel-injected petrol engine gave 161 kW and 310 Nm, which was enough to endow it with a lively turn of speed.Not only was its acceleration off the mark brisk, it also had good mid-range urge for safe overtaking.The diesel choice was a sturdy 2.9-litre single overhead camshaft five cylinder which produced 70 kW and 192 Nm for a much more sedate drive.By today’s standards the normally aspirated diesel lacks performance, it’s sluggish away from the lights, but it’s hard to beat for fuel consumption.A double overhead cam, four valve, fuel-injected four cylinder petrol engine was added to the range in 1997. With 104 kW and 220 Nm, performance was not breathtaking.When it first arrived the petrol-powered Musso could only be had with a four-speed auto taken from the S-Class Mercedes, but a five-sped manual was made available from 1997. The diesel could be had with both from launch.Two types of four-wheel drive system were employed, both activated by a switch on the dash. The diesel had a part-time system, which meant it could be driven in two-wheel drive as well as four-wheel drive, the petrol engines were full-time four-wheel drive. Both had high and low range four-wheel drive for useful offroad performance.All were well equipped with a long list of standard features, including power steering, ABS, air-conditioning, alloy wheels, power windows, power mirrors, central locking, leather steering wheel, rear spoiler, metallic paint.IN THE SHOPThe Musso suffered very few problems, there is nothing major that appears to afflict them.Early wagons with the six-cylinder petrol engines could suffer from oil leaks from the head gasket, but it’s not a widespread problem that should cause undue concern.With the Musso so well equipped it was really aimed at the buyer who drove their 4WD for every day transport with only the very occasional foray beyond the black top, so damage from offtrack use is not normally found.Even so it’s worth looking for signs of hard off-road use, like bashed brackets and fittings underneath, dents and scratches down the sides, and dust in the hard to get at crevices inside.The transfer case caused some grief on early models due to the electric shift motor (coloured blue) overloading the shift fork, which was rectified on a service campaign.Front upper control arm bushes are also known to chop out, but improved aftermarket bushes are available to eliminate that problem.Like all cars Mussos need regular and proper servicing to keep them running sweetly, so look for a service record when inspecting one with a view to purchase. Some uncaring owners were inclined to neglect their Mussos and didn’t service them as they should.OWNERS SAYRetired Mercedes-Benz service technician Peter Hoockey owns a 1997 Musso diesel ex-Mercedes Benz, which has now done 160,000 km. According to Peter it has been an excellent and reliable vehicle. He likes the roomy interior, the lift up tailgate, which gives weather protection when unloading the vehicle, the reasonable roof height for loading the roof rack, the very quiet pre-chamber diesel, and German-made auto. Other good ideas are the heated exterior mirrors, lay back rear seat squabs, and rain sensing wipers. Acceleration is not exactly neck snapping, but the with 10 L/100 km in city driving and 8-9 on the highway the fuel consumption is excellent.John Dummler and his wife, Michelle, own two Mussos. Michelle’s is a 1996 auto, with dealer fitted turbo diesel, which has done 142,000 km, John’s a five-speed manual 3.2-litre six which has done 100,000 km. They have experienced no mechanical problems whatsoever, apart from replacing a set of glow plugs on the diesel at 140,000 km, at a cost of $30 each. John felt the suspension was too soft causing them to wallow over rough roads and sag in the rear, but replacing the rear coils and shockers with Pedder’s heavy duty units rectified that. John says both are more than capable of handling some pretty serious tracks, but the diesel lacks the highway performance of the petrol engine.LOOK FOR• reliable Mercedes-Benz engines and transmissions.• roomy and comfortable interior• capable offroad performance• zippy six-cylinder petrol engine• sluggish, but economical diesel• good value for moneyTHE BOTTOM LINEComfortable, capable four-wheel drive with proven Mercedes-Benz engines and transmissions.RATING65/100
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My experience has generally been that Ssangyong is a brand with decent reliability. Many people think it’s a Chinese brand, but it’s actually a South Korean company. And when you look at the other South Korean car-makers we see here – Hyundai and Kia – you can see that the country makes some fine vehicles with great reliability and durability.

You’re right about that warranty, too; at seven years of factory cover, it’s one of the best (if not the best) in the business. You’re also right about the relative value-for-money equation. The Ssangyong seems like a lot of vehicle for the money.

Perhaps the only thing that might make you think twice would be the supply of spare and service parts. That said, in 2022, that problem is afflicting a lot of mainstream companies and volume sellers as well as the smaller brands. And from what I can gather, this problem is a bigger one for the Chinese brands than some of the others.

A Musso has a towing capacity of 3500kg (with a braked trailer) so a 1200kg caravan should not trouble it one bit. Take the Musso for a test drive and decide for yourself, but we reckon, after a D22 Navara, you’ll be amazed at how good a modern dual-cab ute can be at this price-point.

Six of the best
Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 22 Feb 2008

THE Musso is a good all-round generally reliable four-wheel drive. I know of one that has done more than 200,000km without giving the owner a moment's concern. The engines are superseded Mercedes-Benz units so they're well engineered and seem to be reliable and robust. The transmissions were lifted from old 'Benz models and also give little trouble. The six is a better performer than the diesel, which is relatively old in technology terms. There's no reason why the petrol six couldn't be converted to LPG -- finding a converter with a kit will probably be the biggest problem.

Is the SsangYong Musso reliable?
Answered by Graham Smith · 23 Dec 2016

Musso owners we have spoken to have been unanimous in their praise of the car. One or two have reported fairly minor issues, most love the diesel and have had no trouble at all, and many have done lots of kilometres in their cars.

The one thing you haven’t told me, Graham, is whether your Musso has a manual or automatic gearbox. If it’s a manual, my suspicions would be with the clutch. If a clutch plate is damaged or worn, the clutch sometimes doesn’t fully disengage. That can lead to the gearbox not wanting to select gears from standstill with the engine running.

However, if the transmission is an automatic, then you could, indeed, be looking at a low transmission-fluid level. Unfortunately, the automatic gearbox in this vehicle doesn’t have a dipstick for easy checking of the level, so the first thing to do is take a look underneath the car to see if there are any leaks form the transmission. If there are signs of a fluid leak, then the vehicle needs to go to a transmission shop to have its level checked and the leak fixed.

Overall, the automatic transmission in the Musso Sport was a solid unit, but it’s now getting on a bit in years, so who knows what state the inside of the transmission is in. If you’re lucky, it will just need a service and a new filter and fluid. But there could be a lot more going on inside. Automatic transmissions rely on simple principles but very complicated assemblies. The valve body is a great example: While it relies on relative hydraulic pressure to choose a gear, the reality is a hugely complex circuit of hydraulic passages and valves.

What 4WD should I buy for towing?
Answered by David Morley · 23 Jul 2021

To get a vehicle with meaningful (as opposed to a theoretical) towing ability of 2.5 tonnes, you really need to shop for a relatively late-model dual-cab 4X4 ute. The reason for that is that many vehicles that claim a 2.5-tonne limit in the brochure fail to explain that there’s also a Gross Vehicle Combination Mass in play and, by the time you’ve added passengers, gear and a full tank of fuel to the towing vehicle, there might not be much of that GCM to devote to a towed load.

Going for a vehicle with 3000kg or even 35000kg towing capacity in the first place is a good way to ensure you do accidentally start driving around in an overloaded vehicle with all the legal and insurance connotations that involves.

A lot of the current shape dual-cab utes fall within your budget on a second-hand basis, but there are caveats. Make sure you only buy a ute with a full service history. Some of these vehicles were worked hard by their original owners, so be very careful before handing over the cash. Avoid ex-mine fleet vehicles and don’t be afraid to buy a base-model vehicle if it offers better value. Even a single-cab version of these utes will be a lot cheaper than the dual-cab and, if you don’t need the rear seat, are often a more practical solution. Makes and models include the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Mazda BT50, Mitsubishi Triton and Isuzu D-Max. For real value for money, vehicles like the Ssangyong Musso can tow 3.5 tonnes, are well equipped and can be had for less than $35,000 drive-away, brand-new. That also gets you a seven-year factory warranty. All of these options are available with the automatic transmission you want and, indeed, this is the best option for a tow vehicle.

SsangYong Musso: What is the towing capacity?
Answered by Graham Smith · 08 Feb 2019

The Musso’s towing capacity is 3500 kg, and its GCM is 5980 kg.

Stall to switch off Musso?
Answered by Graham Smith · 08 May 2015

No, that’s not correct. It would be against the law to have to stall the car to stop it.

Issues with towing in my 2023 SsangYong Musso
Answered by David Morley · 29 Jan 2025

There’s a couple of things to look for here. The first is pretty fundamental and relates to how the caravan is loaded and set up. You need to check that the two-ball down-load has not exceeded its maximum (usually 10 per cent of the towed load, so about 270kg in this case). And how is the van loaded beyond that? Are there full water tanks on board? Is the bulk of the mass inside as close to the axles as possible and not stacked in the extreme front or rear of the van?

Swaying and a light front end are classic signs of a poorly loaded or set-up rig. But they’re also dangerous and contribute to many serious caravan crashes every year.

The air-bags are another matter altogether. If these are not correctly set up and adjusted, they can cause more problems than they fix. The best advice would be to visit a caravan and suspension specialist, have the rig weighed axle by axle to determine the total mass and how it’s distributed. From there, you need to listen to what the specialist has to say and be prepared to make some changes on how you set up to tow. But even set up correctly, a 2.7-tonne caravan is getting pretty close to the practical maximum for a SsangYong Musso.

Missing musso
Answered by Graham Smith · 13 Sep 2007

THERE'S nothing sinister about it. The Musso has simply been replaced by the Actyon Sports. Musso owners are generally happy with their cars. Some have done big kilometres without a problem, and we receive few complaints about them here at Carsguide. Dealers are offering run-out deals, so it's probably a good time to sign up.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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