2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol than on all cars registered in 2019.

• Brake discs2.6× usual
  Vauxhall Crossland

  22.6% All 2019 cars

  8.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.4% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

• Exhaust system14.2× usual
  Vauxhall Crossland

  7.1% All 2019 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.1% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints4.8× usual
  Vauxhall Crossland

  2.4% All 2019 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.2% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

• Braking performance2.6× usual
  Vauxhall Crossland

  2.3% All 2019 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.3% of all 2019 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Common 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  29% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Brakes
  27% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Exhaust and emissions
  7% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

• Lights and electrics
  4% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Seats and seatbelts
  3% of testsRough price £80–£250

  At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  3% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Rear axle bolt recall (March 2018 builds)

  Cars built March 2018

  539 cars built in March 2018 were recalled because the bolts holding the rear axle on could snap.

  At the viewing: Use the VIN to confirm with a Vauxhall dealer or the DVSA recall checker that the recall has been done.

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Crossland X review

• Missing rear impact part (early cars)

  Cars built up to May 2017

  219 cars built up to May 2017 left the factory without a rear impact limiter, so they would protect occupants less well in a rear crash.

  At the viewing: Check the build date. If it's May 2017 or earlier, confirm the recall has been done.

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Crossland X review

• Piston recall (late-2017 builds)

  Cars built Oct-Dec 2017

  52 cars built between October and December 2017 were recalled for faulty pistons. The source doesn't say which engine was affected.

  At the viewing: Confirm the recall status with a dealer, and listen for knocking or a rough idle on a cold start.

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Crossland X review

• Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

  1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

  The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

  At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

  Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

• Lambda sensor recall and engine warning light

  Cars built Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

  6,282 cars built between June 2018 and March 2019 got faulty oxygen (lambda) sensors, which made emissions too high. Haynes also names a failing oxygen sensor as a common cause of the engine warning light coming on.

  At the viewing: Make sure the engine warning light comes on with the ignition and then goes out once the engine starts. Confirm the recall has been done.

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Crossland X review, Haynes: Vauxhall Crossland common problems

• Handbrake and door electrics

  All engines

  Haynes says the parking brake can stop working because the release button in the lever fails, and that's an awkward fix. Faulty connector pins in the door plugs can also stop the locks, windows and mirrors from working.

  At the viewing: Test that the handbrake holds and releases. Work every window, lock and mirror from each switch.

  Source: Haynes: Vauxhall Crossland common problems

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has the rear axle bolt recall been done?
2. Has the rear impact limiter recall been carried out?
3. Has the piston recall been completed?
4. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
5. Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 14.2× as often on the 2019 Vauxhall Crossland petrol as on other cars the same age.)