What goes wrong, what it costs, and what to check before you buy a used SsangYong Kyron.
The SsangYong Kyron occupies a niche position on the UK market.
We track 5 known issues across the SsangYong Kyron range, including 2 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a SsangYong Kyron? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
M100 (2005–2016) — Engine options included the 2.0 D20DT. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Severe structural corrosion reducing assembly rigidity (£2,000–£4,000 to address).
The Kyron suffers from widespread structural corrosion affecting load-bearing areas of the bodyshell, particularly around subframe mounting points and suspension attachment areas. MOT data shows this model fails at 28.4 times the national fleet average for structural rigidity defects, indicating a fundamental corrosion protection problem during manufacture. This is not surface rust but corrosion that compromises the structural integrity of the vehicle, making it unsafe to drive and often beyond economical repair.
Structural corrosion renders the vehicle unsafe to drive and will result in an immediate MOT failure. Repair typically requires cutting out and welding new sections of bodyshell, often costing more than the vehicle's value. Many Kyrons with this level of corrosion are scrapped rather than repaired.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
The Kyron experiences brake pipe corrosion at 2.5 times the national fleet average, affecting the steel brake lines that carry hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder to the brake calipers. Corroded brake pipes can rupture suddenly under pressure, causing complete brake failure on one or more wheels. This is a critical safety defect that requires immediate attention.
Corroded brake pipes can rupture without warning, causing sudden and complete brake failure. This creates an immediate risk of serious accident. Any car with brake pipe corrosion should be considered unsafe to drive and repaired immediately. MOT failure is automatic.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The Kyron experiences premature wear of suspension bushes and joints, failing MOT tests at 12.8 times the national average. The suspension design appears to place excessive loads on rubber components, leading to early deterioration of control arm bushes, anti-roll bar links, and ball joints. This affects handling precision and can create dangerous steering instability if multiple components fail simultaneously.
Worn suspension components compromise handling and braking stability, creating a safety risk. Multiple worn components can cause steering instability and unpredictable handling characteristics. Prompt replacement is essential to maintain vehicle safety and pass MOT tests.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
Suspension components on the Kyron suffer from severe corrosion affecting structural integrity, with MOT failures at 8.5 times the fleet average. The corrosion protection on steel suspension arms and brackets appears inadequate, leading to dangerous weakening of load-bearing suspension parts. This is particularly problematic as corroded suspension components can fail suddenly without warning.
Corroded suspension components pose a serious safety risk as they can fail suddenly, causing loss of vehicle control. Components weakened by corrosion will fail MOT inspection and require immediate replacement. In severe cases, mounting points may need bodywork repair as well as component replacement.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The Kyron's steering ball joints wear prematurely, with MOT failure rates 5.7 times higher than the fleet average. These joints connect the steering rack to the wheels and are critical for safe vehicle control. Worn ball joints create dangerous play in the steering system and can separate completely, causing immediate loss of steering control on the affected wheel.
Worn steering ball joints create dangerous play in the steering system and can fail completely without warning, causing immediate loss of directional control. The vehicle will fail its MOT and should not be driven until repaired. Ball joint separation is a common cause of serious accidents.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the SsangYong Kyron common problems page.
Based on 2k real DVSA MOT tests, the SsangYong Kyron fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is vehicle structure corroded to the extent that t... at 28x the fleet average, followed by structural corrosion (18x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full SsangYong Kyron MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full SsangYong Kyron service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The SsangYong Kyron has some well-documented weak points, including 2 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific SsangYong Kyron, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known SsangYong Kyron issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.