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Great Wall Steed car check

Find out if a Steed has outstanding finance, has been written off or stolen, how many owners it’s had, and which known problems apply to the generation you’re looking at.

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian. Results in under a minute.

MOT failure rate
25.3%2k tests
Known problems
5across GWS1
Full report
£7.49one-off, no subscription

Which Steed are you looking at?

Each Steed generation has its own weak spots. Here are the known problems.

  1. Brake pipe corrosion

    Safety risk GWS1

    The brake pipes on the Great Wall Steed corrode at 26.5 times the national fleet average, particularly affecting vehicles from 20,000 miles onwards. This represents one of the highest documented brake pipe corrosion rates in the UK MOT database. The failure affects the entire brake system and creates an immediate safety risk. Corrosion typically begins at pipe joints and mounting points where moisture accumulates.

    What to check: Inspect all visible brake pipes under the vehicle, particularly at chassis mounting points and near the brake fluid reservoir. Look for surface rust, flaking metal, or white/green corrosion deposits. Check brake fluid level in the reservoir - rapid fluid loss indicates pipe failure. Look for brak...

  2. Suspension joint and bush wear

    Wear item GWS1

    Suspension pins, bushes and joints wear at 1254.5 times the national fleet average on the Great Wall Steed, making this the most severe documented suspension wear issue in the UK MOT database. The excessive wear rate suggests inadequate component specification or poor material quality. Failure affects vehicle handling, tyre wear, and roadworthiness.

    What to check: Visually inspect all visible suspension components for cracked rubber bushes, particularly at anti-roll bar mountings and control arm pivot points. Check for excessive play by pushing and pulling on suspension arms where accessible. Examine tyre wear patterns - uneven wear across the tread or exc...

  3. Transmission wear

    Wear item GWS1

    Transmission components including joints, belts, chains and shaft bearings fail at extremely high rates on the Great Wall Steed. Joint and belt wear occurs at 5 times the average rate. These failures typically manifest from 40,000 miles onwards and suggest fundamental transmission design or material quality issues.

    What to check: Check transmission oil level and condition if accessible - dark, contaminated oil or metal particles indicate internal wear. Look under the vehicle for transmission oil leaks which may indicate seal or gasket failure.

  4. Wheel bearing wear

    Wear item GWS1

    Wheel bearings develop excessive play at 27.8 times the national fleet average on the Great Wall Steed, with the problem worsening over time. Bearing failure typically begins from 40,000 miles but can occur as early as 20,000 miles. This represents a significant safety concern as wheel bearing collapse can cause wheel detachment.

    What to check: Jack up each wheel in turn and spin by hand - listen for grinding, rumbling, or rough rotation which indicates bearing wear. Grasp the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock positions and rock it to check for vertical play. Grasp at 3 and 9 o'clock and check for horizontal play. Any noticeable movement indica...

  5. Engine management light activation

    Engine damage risk GWS1

    The engine management light illuminates at This indicates a fault detected by the engine management system, commonly relating to emissions control components, sensors, or fuel system issues on diesel variants.

    What to check: Check if the engine management light is currently illuminated on the dashboard. Ask the seller whether the light has appeared previously and what fault codes were diagnosed. Request evidence of any recent diagnostic work or component replacements.

Steed MOT results

25.3%

of Steed MOT tests end in a fail, from 1,970 tests.

Most common reasons for failing

  1. Transmission joint, belt or chain wornBodywork
  2. Coil springs brokenSuspension
  3. Transmission shaft bearing wornBodywork

Check the Steed you’re buying

One report covers outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and previous owners from Experian, plus MOT history, mileage and the known problems for its generation.

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian.

What the check includes

Steed questions

Is the Great Wall Steed reliable?

25.3% of Steed models fail their MOT based on 1,970 tests analysed. That’s below average for the class. There are 5 known problems to watch for, the most serious being brake pipe corrosion. A full history check shows whether a specific car has had related write-offs or insurance claims.

What are the main problems with a Great Wall Steed?

The most serious known issues are brake pipe corrosion, suspension joint and bush wear, transmission wear. Our car check flags whether a specific Steed has been written off or had insurance claims linked to these faults.

How do I check if a Great Wall Steed has outstanding finance?

Enter the registration on this page. We query Experian’s finance database and return any outstanding agreements within a minute. If finance is still owed, the finance company can legally repossess the car even after you’ve paid the seller. At £7.49 it’s the cheapest way to avoid a car that isn’t legally for sale.

How do I check if a Great Wall Steed has been written off?

Our check queries Experian’s insurance write-off database for Cat A, B, S and N markers. A Cat S or N Steed has been structurally or non-structurally damaged and repaired. This doesn’t mean it’s unsafe, but it affects resale value and some insurers won’t cover it. The check costs £7.49.

Can I check a Great Wall Steed for free?

You can check MOT history free on GOV.UK, which shows past test results and advisories. What it won’t show is outstanding finance, write-offs or theft markers, which are the things that actually cost you money after you’ve bought. Our full check adds all of that for £7.49, using Experian data.

Is a Great Wall Steed HPI check worth it?

HPI is one brand of car check. Our check uses the same Experian data covering finance, stolen, write-off and keeper history, plus MOT analysis and known Steed faults that HPI doesn’t include. At £7.49 it’s typically less than half the price of an HPI check.

What does a Great Wall Steed fail its MOT on?

The most common MOT failure on the Steed is transmission joint, belt or chain worn. 25.3% of Steed models fail overall, based on 1,970 tests. Checking a car’s full MOT history before buying shows you recurring problems the seller might not mention.

More on the Steed

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian. MOT data from DVSA. Known problems from GetCarWise analysis. Updated October 2026.