Used car guide

2021 Vauxhall Grandland: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Vauxhall Grandlands, from 10,671 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

10,671MOT tests in 2025
89%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,200typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for brake discs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Vauxhall Grandlands than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake discs1.7× usual
    Vauxhall Grandland
    12.2% All 2021 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2021 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.

By area

The share of 2021 Vauxhall Grandland 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
    18% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    1% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023462Tyres 26%
20227,136Tyres 28%
202018,157Tyres 30%
201922,431Tyres 30%
201816,132Tyres 29%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Vauxhall Grandlands registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score