2021 SsangYong Musso — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 SsangYong Musso passed 76.7% of its 1,375 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 8.7% of the time, so this is 14.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.3% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are parking brake performance, rbt (sp) and rear fog lamp — parking brake performance alone was recorded 129 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.4% in the 0-30k band and 25.4% in the 90-120k band, a 8.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.3% | 211 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 162 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.5% | 48 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 45 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 42 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.4% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parking brake performance | 129 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 123 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 79 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 58 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 38 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.3% | 334 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.1% | 221 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 132 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.0% | 68 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 66 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 57 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 437 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 604 | 24.7% |
| 60-90k | 234 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 59 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 664 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 701 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Musso
On a 2021 Musso, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 SsangYong Mussos pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 1,375 2021 SsangYong Musso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 SsangYong Musso?
Brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 2021 Musso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,375 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.