Used car guide

2021 Vauxhall Grandland X SE Premium Turbo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Vauxhall Grandland X SE Premium Turbos, from 579 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

579MOT tests in 2025
87%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
9,000typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Vauxhall Grandland X SE Premium Turbos than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Brake pads2× usual
    Vauxhall Grandland X SE Premium Turbo
    13.5% All 2021 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 4% here, against 11.5% of all 2021 cars.

By area

The share of 2021 Vauxhall Grandland X SE Premium Turbo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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
    22% 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
    6% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    2% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020688Tyres 34%

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