2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol than on all cars registered in 2018.

• Brake discs1.7× usual
  Vauxhall Grandland

  16.8% All 2018 cars

  9.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.5% of all 2018 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.

• Anti-roll bar link joints17× usual
  Vauxhall Grandland

  6.8% All 2018 cars

  0.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints3.3× usual
  Vauxhall Grandland

  2.6% All 2018 cars

  0.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.4% of all 2018 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.

• Headlights2.2× usual
  Vauxhall Grandland

  2.2% All 2018 cars

  1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.9% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Common 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  27% 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
  24% 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.

• Suspension
  12% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  6% 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
  6% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  5% 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 2018 Vauxhall Grandland 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.

• Piston recall: engine failure

  All engines

  Pistons may not meet specification, letting oil into the intake. In extreme cases the engine can fail, and dealers will replace it. 2018 cars could also leak oil from a block plug.

  At the viewing: Ask a Vauxhall dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

  Source: What Car?: used Vauxhall Grandland X (2018 on) reliability

• Side airbag and seatbelt recalls

  Some cars

  Leather seat stitching could stop the side airbag deploying, and a few cars had a centre rear belt not fastened at the factory.

  At the viewing: Ask for proof the recalls were done.

  Source: What Car?: used Vauxhall Grandland X (2018 on) reliability

• 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)

• Infotainment freezing

  All engines

  The infotainment can freeze or crash and may need an update.

  At the viewing: Use the screen during the test drive.

  Source: What Car?: used Vauxhall Grandland X (2018 on) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol

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

1. Have the piston and oil plug recalls been done?
2. Has the leather seat airbag recall been done?
3. 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?
4. Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 17× as often on the 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2018 Vauxhall Grandland petrol as on other cars the same age.)