Vauxhall Grandland MOT Failures

An analysis of 455,324 real DVSA MOT tests on the Vauxhall Grandland — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: X (2017–2022).

Where the Vauxhall Grandland fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Vauxhall Grandland is anti-roll bar links worn — this model is 13 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 455,324 MOT tests, 1.73% of all Vauxhall Grandland tests recorded this as a failure.

Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.

Other notable weak points include fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... (46x the fleet average), front or rear fog lamp not securely attached (22x the fleet average), seat mounting fault (10x the fleet average), and lens defective which has no effect on emitted l... (16x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Vauxhall Grandland's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 5 categories: Suspension, Bodywork, Lights & Electrics, Seatbelts & Airbags, Exhaust & Emissions. If you're inspecting a Vauxhall Grandland before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Vauxhall Grandland's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

Under 60,000 miles

At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.

For the Vauxhall Grandland specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... (32x the average) and front or rear fog lamp not securely attached (22x). emissions failure (8.3x) and lens defective which has no effect on emitted l... (8.0x) also appear frequently.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

For the Vauxhall Grandland specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are seat mounting fault (7.9x the average) and anti-roll bar links worn (5.8x).

The shift from fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective ... at lower mileages to seat mounting fault at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Vauxhall Grandland specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Fuel system leak or filler cap failure Major

The 1.2-litre petrol variants show an extremely high rate of fuel system leaks or ineffective filler cap seals. Affects X; typical independent garage repair cost is £50–£150.

Suspension bush and joint wear Major

MOT data shows this model fails at 30.0 times the fleet average for suspension pin, bush or joint wear, with the trend worsening over recent years. Affects X; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.

Steering column bearing wear Major

The 1200cc petrol variants show steering column top bearing wear at 6.9 times the fleet average, with failures concentrated in the 20,000-40,000 mile range and a worsening trend. Affects X; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£350.

Brake binding Major

MOT data shows brake binding at 40.8 times the fleet average, indicating significant brake effort recorded with no brake pedal applied. Affects X; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£300.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Vauxhall Grandland common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Vauxhall Grandland

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Vauxhall Grandland:

Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn. Bodywork — check for fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective .... Lights & Electrics — check for front or rear fog lamp not securely attached, lens defective which has no effect on emitted l.... Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about fuel system leak or filler cap failure and suspension bush and joint wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £50. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.