2012 Vauxhall Corsa: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Vauxhall Corsa?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Vauxhall Corsa than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Shock absorbers2.8× usual
  Vauxhall Corsa

  16% All 2012 cars

  5.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1.5% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

• Engine oil leaks2.6× usual
  Vauxhall Corsa

  15.3% All 2012 cars

  5.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

• Sub-frame2.8× usual
  Vauxhall Corsa

  9.9% All 2012 cars

  3.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Coil springs1.7× usual
  Vauxhall Corsa

  14.2% All 2012 cars

  8.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.2%, against 3.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

• Exhaust system1.8× usual
  Vauxhall Corsa

  8.8% All 2012 cars

  5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Petrol or diesel: does it make a difference?

The same figures for each fuel on its own. Check which one the car you're looking at is: it's on the logbook and in its MOT history.

Common 2012 Vauxhall Corsa MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  41% 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.

• Tyres
  33% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  29% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• 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.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  16% 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.

• Exhaust and emissions
  10% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Known faults on the 2012 Vauxhall Corsa

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.

• Steering rack recall

  All engines

  Some Corsa Ds were recalled because the steering rack could fail under heavy load.

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

  Source: Haynes: Vauxhall Corsa D common problems

• Worn gearbox synchromesh

  Manual gearbox

  A sticky gear change and a scraping noise from underneath between about 1,800 and 2,800 rpm point to worn synchromesh.

  At the viewing: Change up and down through every gear, especially 3rd to 4th, and listen in that rev range.

  If it needs doing: Gearbox sensor or solenoid, about £200–£500. ClickMechanic

  Source: Haynes: Vauxhall Corsa D common problems

• Clutch that doesn't fully let go

  Manual gearbox

  The clutch may not fully disengage, so gears are hard to select.

  At the viewing: Check gears go in easily from a standstill with the clutch pressed.

  If it needs doing: Clutch replacement, about £250–£600. ClickMechanic

  Source: Haynes: Vauxhall Corsa D common problems

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Vauxhall Corsa

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

1. Has the steering rack recall been done?
2. Has the gearbox had any work?
3. Has the clutch been replaced?
4. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Corsa as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Corsa as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Corsa as on other cars the same age.)