2023 Vauxhall Crossland petrol: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the petrol Vauxhall Crossland first registered in 2023 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 229 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: there were only 229 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
Common 2023 Vauxhall Crossland petrol MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2023 Vauxhall Crossland petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres12% 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.
- Brakes8% 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.
- Lights and electrics4% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors3% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Seats and seatbelts1% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
Known faults on the 2023 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.
- Cars built March 2018
Rear axle bolt recall (March 2018 builds)
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.
- Cars built up to May 2017
Missing rear impact part (early cars)
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.
- Cars built Oct-Dec 2017
Piston recall (late-2017 builds)
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.
- 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol
Timing belt that runs in oil (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)
- Cars built Jun 2018 - Mar 2019
Lambda sensor recall and engine warning light
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
- All engines
Handbrake and door electrics
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.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2023 Vauxhall Crossland petrol
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Has the rear axle bolt recall been done?
- Has the rear impact limiter recall been carried out?
- Has the piston recall been completed?
- 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?
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Vauxhall Crossland?
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Other years
Every year of the Vauxhall Crossland compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2024 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2022 | 14,408 | Tyres 24% |
| 2021 | 32,733 | Tyres 24% |
| 2020 | 54,681 | Tyres 28% |
| 2019 | 48,688 | Tyres 29% |
| 2018 | 37,562 | Tyres 30% |
| 2017 | 7,554 | Tyres 31% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Vauxhall Crossland cars first registered in 2023. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score