2022 Ssangyong Musso 2.2L Diesel · AF72 MYG

A pattern of mechanical concern is emerging on this Musso around its parking brake and steering systems, with the most recent DVSA encounter on 8 December 2025 producing a failed certificate alongside an eventual pass recorded the same day. The failure was driven entirely by two Major defects relating to the parking brake: efficiency fell below the required minimum and the handbrake lever displayed excessive travel indicative of improper adjustment. These two failures are mechanically linked, as a poorly adjusted or stretched handbrake cable directly compromises the holding force on the rear drums or calipers. The same test also noted a Central Front Lower power steering pipe or hose showing slight seepage, and given that power steering hoses on diesel pick-up platforms are prone to weeping at the crimped unions under high pressure cycles, this advisory warrants close attention at the next service. A nearside rear tyre was flagged as worn close to the legal limit and worn on the edge, which on a live rear axle vehicle typically points to alignment irregularity or a failing rear bush rather than simple tyre age. With 65,739 miles recorded on a 2022 vehicle, this Musso is accumulating approximately 16,400 miles annually, a notably high figure for a four-year-old pick-up. This rate of use means the drivetrain, clutch or torque converter, suspension components, and braking system have all seen considerably more working cycles than a typical example of the same age. Mechanically, this translates into accelerated wear on dual-mass flywheel damping, rear leaf bushings, propshaft centre bearings, and the AdBlue injector system, all of which are known cost items on the Musso platform. There are no multi-year testing gaps in the record, which is reassuring as it suggests the vehicle has remained in continuous use rather than being laid up, but the high annual accumulation still implies that consumables have been consumed at an above-average rate. On a physical inspection, particular attention should be paid to the rear brake assemblies given the parking brake failure. With the vehicle raised, check the rear shoes or pads for material depth, examine the handbrake cable for stretching at the equaliser, and confirm the lever mechanism latches positively without slop. At ground level, on a test drive, perform repeated hill starts on an incline with the handbrake engaged to verify the vehicle holds without rolling, as cable stretch can intermittently allow slippage that a static adjustment does not reveal. For the power steering seepage, inspect the area beneath the front axle after the vehicle has been parked overnight, looking for fresh drips on the lower pipe or rack, and on start-up listen for any groaning or whining from the pump that would indicate fluid loss has begun to starve the system. The suspension should also be probed carefully given the rear tyre edge wear advisory, as this is a classic indicator of misalignment caused by worn trailing arm bushings, a sagging rear leaf pack, or a bent axle beam following heavy load use. With the vehicle unloaded, push down firmly on each rear corner and release, checking that the rebound settles in a single controlled motion rather than continuing to oscillate, which would confirm weakened dampers or fatigued springs. During the road test, listen for clonking over broken surfaces from the rear, particularly over speed humps and on full lock, and pay attention to any steering pull or wandering that could indicate the front geometry has also been disturbed. Finally, examine the offside windscreen chip noted on the MOT for any sign of cracking that could compromise an MOT retest, and verify the nearside rear tyre has been replaced with a matching specification unit rather than a budget alternative that may undo the tracking correction.