2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel than on all cars registered in 2020.

• Brake discs3.2× usual
  Vauxhall Crossland

  23.7% All 2020 cars

  7.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.4% of all 2020 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 system54× usual
  Vauxhall Crossland

  10.8% All 2020 cars

  0.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0% of all 2020 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.

• Braking performance2.9× usual
  Vauxhall Crossland

  2.3% All 2020 cars

  0.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2020 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 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  28% 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
  28% 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
  11% 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 engine or DPF warning lights.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• 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.

• Suspension
  2% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

Known faults on the 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel

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

• 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 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel

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. Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 3.2× as often on the 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 54× as often on the 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the 2020 Vauxhall Crossland diesel as on other cars the same age.)