2020 Vauxhall Grandland hybrid: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Vauxhall Grandland hybrid?

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

• Tread depth1.7× usual
  Vauxhall Grandland

  25.2% All 2020 cars

  14.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1.4% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

Common 2020 Vauxhall Grandland hybrid MOT failures and advisories

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

• Tyres
  32% 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
  11% 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
  4% 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
  3% 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 2020 Vauxhall Grandland hybrid

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

• 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 2020 Vauxhall Grandland hybrid

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. Any recent work on the tread depth? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2020 Vauxhall Grandland hybrid as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?