Issues with towing in my 2023 SsangYong Musso

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.

I am changing over my old Navara D22 and considering a Ssangyong Musso Ultimate. Should I take a risk on a Musso?

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.

Why is my 2006 Ssangyong Musso going into reverse when it's cold?

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?

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?

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

Is the SsangYong Musso reliable?

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.

Stall to switch off Musso?

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

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.

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.

Ssangyong Musso 1996 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Ssangyong Musso 1996 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Ssangyong Musso review: 1996-1998

29 Jan 2009 · by Graham Smith

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 ...

Musso buying advice

Answered by CarsGuide 10 May 2007

THE Musso flew under the radar of most buyers because the SsangYong brand was unknown here, but talk to a Musso owner and they will almost certainly tell you they love their car. I know of one that has done well in excess of 250,000km without a problem. The Musso's engines and transmissions are basically old Mercedes units, so they're well designed and developed. The rest of the car is pretty well built. One downer is that the 1996 model doesn't have an airbag. In my view the asking price is about $1000 too high, particularly if the sunroof doesn't work. It might not bother you that it doesn't work, but it might bother the person you want to sell it to in a few years, and so reduce the potential resale value.

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Ssangyong Musso 1996 Problems

Used Ssangyong Musso review: 1996-1998

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