2017 Vauxhall Grandland — MOT failures & pass rate
289 MOT tests on the 2017 Vauxhall Grandland are in this dataset, and 86.9% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (12.0% fail rate), the 2017 Grandland comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.8%) and brakes (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 14 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.1% versus 2.4%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.8% | 14 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.8% | 14 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 12 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 10 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 6 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 4 |
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 | 23.5% | 68 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 57 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.4% | 30 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.6% | 22 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 17 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 11 |
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 | 42 | 2.4% |
| 30-60k | 157 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 72 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 187 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 102 | 13.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51 | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 53 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 63 | 15.9% |
| 2024 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 62 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Grandland
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (4.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (4.8% 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 (4.2% 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 2017 Vauxhall Grandlands pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 289 2017 Vauxhall Grandland MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Vauxhall Grandland?
Suspension, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by brakes (4.8%).
Does the 2017 Grandland get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 289 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.