2018 Vauxhall Grandland — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 91,638 MOT tests, the 2018 Vauxhall Grandland recorded an 87.7% pass rate. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 4,129 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.2% versus 7.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (13.4% vs 11.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 4,140 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 3,603 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.0% | 2,797 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 2,688 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 1,867 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 1,445 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 4,129 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,157 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,912 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 1,710 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,602 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,083 |
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 | 22.9% | 20,996 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 18,654 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.6% | 7,890 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.1% | 6,553 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 2,029 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 1,914 |
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 | 29,685 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 46,842 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 13,006 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,841 | 19.7% |
| 120-150k | 202 | 17.8% |
| 150k+ | 58 | 17.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 60,906 | 11.8% |
| Diesel | 30,732 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,834 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 18,186 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 18,320 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 18,453 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 18,845 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Grandland
On a 2018 Grandland, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.0% 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.
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 2018 Vauxhall Grandlands pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 91,638 2018 Vauxhall Grandland MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Grandland?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2018 Grandland get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 91,638 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.