Skip to content
KickTyres
SsangYong2011–2019 Critical issues documented

SsangYong Korando C300: common faults & what to check

The C300 is the SsangYong Korando built 2019 onward. It was sold here with the 1.5 turbo petrol and 1.6 diesel. Of the 9 faults documented for the Korando, 4 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact SsangYong Korando

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

9

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$600–$2,500

Typical repair

5

Systems covered

You're looking at the C300

2 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

Choose a different generation

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

A 2020 SsangYong Korando is the C300 generation (2019 to now).

Start your free check on this SsangYong Korando

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

SsangYong Korando C300Engine not picked yet

Pick the engine above first: the Korando came with 2, and without it the report has to show all of their faults. Pick the engine

Free. The paid plate check is separate, and stays optional.

Can't confirm for this car

SsangYong Korando · 2020

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

  • No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a SsangYong Korando before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

  • Costly issue

    Visually inspect ball joint boot for cracking or grease leakage.

    See why

    Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Premature Wear

    Front lower control arm ball joints on the C-generation Korando show premature wear from approximately 60,000-80,000 km, producing clunking over bumps and vague steering feel. The ball joint is integral to the lower control arm on this platform, meaning the entire arm must be replaced rather than just the joint. NZ road conditions (chip seal, potholes, and gravel entries) accelerate wear compared to AU. Several independent suspension workshops in NZ and AU have flagged this as a consistent pattern on the platform.

    What you would notice

    • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over speed bumps or rough surfaces
    • Steering feels vague or has increased play at centre
    • Clicking sensation through steering wheel when turning on full lock
    • Uneven front tyre wear

    Typically $500–$1,100 to put right.

See all 4 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked.
Body, brakes, suspension & interior1

01Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Premature Wear

Visually inspect ball joint boot for cracking or grease leakage.petrol2019 onwardSuspension
OccasionalSuspension $500–$1,100 to fix

Front lower control arm ball joints on the C-generation Korando show premature wear from approximately 60,000-80,000 km, producing clunking over bumps and vague steering feel. The ball joint is integral to the lower control arm on this platform, meaning the entire arm must be replaced rather than just the joint. NZ road conditions (chip seal, potholes, and gravel entries) accelerate wear compared to AU. Several independent suspension workshops in NZ and AU have flagged this as a consistent pattern on the platform.

The front wheel of a car splayed outward with the lower control arm hanging down after a ball joint separation.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A separated lower ball joint: the control arm has dropped and the wheel has splayed out under the guard.

Elfix · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Symptoms to notice

  • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over speed bumps or rough surfaces
  • Steering feels vague or has increased play at centre
  • Clicking sensation through steering wheel when turning on full lock
  • Uneven front tyre wear

What to check

Visually inspect ball joint boot for cracking or grease leakage. Check front tyre wear pattern. Drive over speed bumps and listen for clunking from front corners. If a workshop inspection is possible: With vehicle on a hoist, grasp each front wheel and rock it to test for ball joint play.

Where to look: Front lower control arm, ball joint at outer pivot connecting arm to wheel hub

Parts involved: Ball joint.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the front suspension been inspected or any lower arm components replaced?”
  • “Has the vehicle ever produced a clunking noise from the front over bumps?”
  • “When was the last wheel alignment done?”
Depends on the exact engine — 3 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.
Engine, transmission & cooling2

01G15DTP 1.5T Cold-Start Timing Chain Rattle

Insist on a cold-start inspection.petrol2019 onwardEngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

021.5 turbo petrol timing belt service and fuel economy (C300)

Check the service book for the timing-belt interval and whether it has been done (or is due) at this car's mileage.petrol2019 onwardEngine
OccasionalEngine $800–$2,500 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The C300's 1.5 TGDi turbo-petrol runs a rubber timing belt that needs replacing on schedule (around 100,000 miles / a set interval) — a belt failure can wreck the engine, so proof it's been done matters on higher-km cars. Owners also note thirstier-than-expected real-world economy from the small 50-litre tank. It's not a chronic failure item, but the belt is a maintenance liability buyers overlook on a modern turbo.

Symptoms to notice

  • No obvious symptom until the belt is due
  • Higher fuel use than expected
  • Any belt-area noise on start-up warrants inspection

What to check

  1. Check the service book for the timing-belt interval and whether it has been done (or is due) at this car's mileage.
  2. On a modern turbo, an overdue belt is a serious risk.
  3. Confirm the cambelt hasn't been ignored just because it's a newer car.

Where to look: Timing belt behind the front cover of the 1.5 turbo-petrol engine

Parts involved: Timing belt, Turbocharger.

Ask the seller

  • “When is the timing belt due, and has it been done?”
  • “What real-world fuel economy do you get?”
  • “Any belt or engine noises?”
Electrical1

01Electrical/sensor faults and unresolved check-engine lights (C300)

Check the dash for any active warning lights on start-up.2019 onwardElectricalRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Other SsangYong Korando engines and years5 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.
Engine, transmission & cooling4

01Automatic gearbox jerky shifts and sticking in one gear

Drive it from cold and then again warm, because this gearbox behaves differently at each.2012–2019TransmissionRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02Radiator end tank cracking from material fatigue

Check the coolant level cold, then look at the radiator itself.2011–2014Cooling
OccasionalCooling $400–$1,500 to fix

Does not apply

A less well-known but serious fault on 2011 to 2014 cars: the plastic end tank on the radiator cracks through material fatigue. Coolant is then lost gradually rather than dramatically, and because the crack is often a hairline that only opens under pressure when the system is hot, the car can look completely dry when you inspect it cold. That is what makes it dangerous — the loss is slow, the driver tops it up or does not notice, and the first real symptom is overheating, which on any engine can turn a cheap radiator into a cylinder head. The radiator itself is not an expensive part. Missing it is what costs money.

Symptoms to notice

  • Coolant level dropping with no obvious puddle underneath
  • Sweet smell, or steam from the engine bay after a drive
  • Dried coloured residue on or below the radiator
  • Temperature gauge climbing in traffic, or the heater blowing cool
  • Needing to top up the coolant regularly

What to check

Check the coolant level cold, then look at the radiator itself. Compare the level in the expansion tank against its marks and note whether the coolant is clean and coloured. Then look at the radiator across its top and along both end tanks, where the plastic meets the metal core, for hairline cracks, a damp patch, or the dried coloured residue that a slow weep leaves behind — this looks like a crusty white, pink or green deposit rather than a wet spot. Look at the ground where the car normally parks for coloured drips. Ask the seller directly how often they top up the coolant, since owners of these do it as routine without treating it as a fault, and that question gets the honest answer more often than any inspection. On the test drive, watch the temperature gauge the whole time, especially sitting in slow traffic, and check the heater blows properly hot at idle. After the drive, with the bonnet up, look again at the radiator now the system is hot and pressurised. If a workshop inspection is possible: a cooling-system pressure test finds a hairline crack that a cold inspection will miss entirely.

Where to look: Front of the vehicle — radiator plastic end tanks where they join the core

Parts involved: Radiator.

Ask the seller

  • “How often do you top up the coolant?”
  • “Has the radiator ever been replaced?”
  • “Has the engine ever overheated?”

032.0 e-XDi injector and turbocharger wear — power loss past 100,000 km

Be there for a cold start, because that is where the injectors show themselves.diesel2011–2019EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

04Aisin 6-speed automatic jerky/slipping when cold

Do the first part of the drive from cold and note any jerkiness, slip or delayed engagement.2011–2019Transmission
OccasionalTransmission $1,200–$4,500 to fix

Does not apply

C200 Korandos with the Aisin 6-speed automatic are reported to shift jerkily, slip, and engage with a delay into drive or reverse, most noticeable on cold starts or after extended driving. A fluid service can help early on; a neglected or badly worn unit can need major work.

Symptoms to notice

  • Jerky shifts, especially when cold
  • Slipping (revs rise without matching acceleration)
  • Delayed engagement into D or R
  • Vibration under load

What to check

  1. Do the first part of the drive from cold and note any jerkiness, slip or delayed engagement.
  2. Check for any transmission fluid service history.
  3. Warm it up and confirm the behaviour settles rather than getting worse.

Where to look: Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission

Ask the seller

  • “Has the transmission fluid ever been changed?”
  • “Does it shift smoothly from cold?”
  • “Any slipping or delayed engagement?”
Electrical1

01Electrical gremlins: power windows, central locking and moisture in wiring

Operate every window and the central locking several times.2011–2019Electrical
CommonElectrical $150–$1,200 to fix

Does not apply

Electronics are the C200 Korando's Achilles heel. Power windows commonly fail from around 50,000-70,000 km, and owners report intermittent central-locking faults, spurious dashboard warning lights, and non-working rain/light sensors — often traced to moisture in the wiring harness or a weak key-fob battery. Individually cheap, but intermittent faults cost diagnostic time.

Symptoms to notice

  • Power window slow or dead
  • Central locking intermittent
  • Random dash warning lights
  • Rain/light sensors not working

What to check

Operate every window and the central locking several times. Check the auto wipers/lights if fitted. Look for damp or musty smells suggesting water in the cabin/harness. Try a fresh key-fob battery if the remote is flaky.

Where to look: Door window regulators/motors, door lock actuators, wiring harness, dash sensors

Ask the seller

  • “Do all four windows and the central locking work every time?”
  • “Any recurring warning lights?”
  • “Has there been water in the cabin?”

SsangYong Korando faults in detail

Narrowed to the SsangYong Korando · 2020. Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

Electrical/sensor faults and unresolved check-engine lights (C300)Major · ElectricalG15DTP 1.5T Cold-Start Timing Chain RattleMajor · Engine

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the SsangYong Korando’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Other SsangYong models

SsangYong Rexton13 documented faultsSsangYong Musso10 documented faultsSsangYong Tivoli7 documented faultsSsangYong Rhino6 documented faults

SsangYong Korando buyer questions

Is the SsangYong Korando reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 9 documented faults for the SsangYong Korando, the recurring problem areas are transmission, cooling, and engine. A SsangYong Korando with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used SsangYong Korando?

We've catalogued 9 known faults for the SsangYong Korando, covering transmission, cooling, and engine. All 9 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a SsangYong Korando?

Most single repairs on the SsangYong Korando fall between $600–$2,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 9 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a SsangYong Korando?

Yes. A SsangYong Korando inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.