All models / Small SUVs / Vauxhall Crossland / What to check

What to check: Vauxhall Crossland

EBy age

CBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Vauxhall Crossland, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 8.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 7.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 3.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 1.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 1.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Coil springsLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 1.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 27.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 23.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 1.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Check the car's build date against the recall for the high-pressure fuel pump (petrol, March 2019 to February 2020), and confirm it in the service history or via the DVSA recall checker.No record of the fix means an unresolved fuel leak risk, not just missing paperwork.

On a 1.2 petrol, ask for the full service history and find out when the timing belt (wet belt) was last changed.A patchy or missing history is the biggest warning sign for belt failure and expensive engine damage.

Apply and release the handbrake several times and check it holds properly on a slope.A sticky release button or a brake that won't hold points to the known parking brake weak spot.

If it's an automatic, drive it through some stop-start traffic or slow manoeuvring.Jerky or hesitant low-speed changes are widely reported and worth factoring into your offer.

On a manual, pull away from a dead stop a few times, ideally including a slight incline.Slipping, a high biting point, or judder means a clutch that's nearing the end of its life.

Lift the boot carpet and check under the front floor mats for damp or a musty smell, and run a finger round the door and window seals.Damp carpets or perished seals mean water has been getting in, which can hide corrosion starting from the inside out.

Read the full MOT history, not just the pass or fail.The same corrosion advisory repeated year after year means rust that's being pushed to the next test, not fixed.

Full Vauxhall Crossland reliability report