MajorCommonEngine

SsangYong Rexton: Mercedes OM602/OM664 Diesel Glow Plug Seizure

Mercedes OM602/OM664 Diesel Glow Plug Seizure is a common engine fault on the SsangYong Rexton on the 2002–2017 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $2,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the SsangYong Rexton.

Vehicle: SsangYong Rexton
Engine: 2.9L / 2.7L
Years: 2002–2017
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the SsangYong Rexton as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All SsangYong Rexton faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Glow plug yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The Mercedes-sourced OM602 2.9D and OM664 2.7D diesel engines fitted to the Rexton share a known glow plug seizure problem. The steel glow plugs corrode into the aluminium cylinder head over time and snap during removal, leaving the tip embedded in the head. Extraction requires specialist tools and, in worst cases, a head removal. Skipping replacement prolongs hard cold starts and increases injector load in cold weather.

What you would notice

Hard starting in cold weather (especially below 10°C)
Excessive white smoke on cold start that clears slowly
Glow plug warning light not cycling correctly
Misfiring on cold start that clears when warm

How to check it

Where to look. Cylinder head, one per cylinder, adjacent to injectors

Ask whether plugs have been replaced and at what mileage. If unknown, budget for professional extraction as part of purchase. If a workshop inspection is possible: Test glow plug circuit resistance with a multimeter — each plug should read 0.5–1 ohm. Do not allow air-gun removal of cold plugs on a cold engine.

Parts involved: Glow plug.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $2,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the glow plugs ever been replaced?”
“Does the vehicle start easily in cold mornings?”
“Has any glow plug broken during removal?”

Now check the SsangYong Rexton you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

SsangYong Rexton buyer questions

Is mercedes om602/om664 diesel glow plug seizure serious on a SsangYong Rexton?

We rate it major and common on the SsangYong Rexton. The Mercedes-sourced OM602 2.9D and OM664 2.7D diesel engines fitted to the Rexton share a known glow plug seizure problem. The steel glow plugs corrode into the aluminium cylinder head over time and snap during removal, leaving the tip embedded in the head. Extraction requires specialist tools and, in worst cases, a head removal. Skipping replacement prolongs hard cold starts and increases injector load in cold weather.

How much does it cost to fix on a SsangYong Rexton?

$400 to $2,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which SsangYong Rexton years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2002–2017 SsangYong Rexton. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.