2021 Vauxhall Crossland — MOT failures & pass rate
35,745 MOT tests on the 2021 Vauxhall Crossland are in this dataset, and 91.7% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (7.1% fail rate), the 2021 Crossland comes out 1.1pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and brakes (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, brake discs and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 723 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 13.6% in the 60-90k band, a 7.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 8.0% of the time against 8.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 1,379 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 1,072 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 663 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 406 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 297 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 207 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 723 |
| 2 | Brake discs | 622 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 505 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 398 |
| 5 | Washers | 325 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 172 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.8% | 7,454 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 7,037 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 2,024 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 868 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 458 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 458 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 21,261 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 13,656 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 800 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 34,462 | 8.3% |
| Diesel | 1,281 | 8.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,073 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 17,761 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 16,902 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Crossland
On a 2021 Crossland, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (3.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Vauxhall Crosslands pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 35,745 2021 Vauxhall Crossland MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Crossland?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by brakes (3.0%).
Does the 2021 Crossland get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,745 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.