Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Vauxhall Crossland 2018: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2018 Vauxhall Crossland include Exhaust system (front) (~14.7× peers) and Drive shafts — Joints (front) (~12.0× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (3,147 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

3,147 failed first-attempt tests · 12,055 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Exhaust system (front) — about 14.7× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Exhaust system (front): about 14.7× more often than similar cars
  • Drive shafts — Joints (front): about 12.0× more often than similar cars
  • Exhaust system: about 10.2× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 3,147 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Exhaust system (front)

This failure pattern appears about 14.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 199 failed first-attempt tests; 6.3% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 199 failures · ×14.7 vs similar cars · 6.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Drive shafts — Joints (front)

This failure pattern appears about 12.0× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 884 failed first-attempt tests; 28.1% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 884 failures · ×12.0 vs similar cars · 28.1% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Exhaust system

This failure pattern appears about 10.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 167 failed first-attempt tests; 5.3% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 167 failures · ×10.2 vs similar cars · 5.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Front 199 ×14.7 6.3% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Drive shafts — Joints
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints
 Any 87 ×14.1 2.8% Likely common fault pattern
3 Drive shafts — Joints (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints
 Front 884 ×12.0 28.1% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4 Exhaust system
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Any 167 ×10.2 5.3% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Emissions not tested
 Any 75 ×7.2 2.4% Likely common fault pattern
6 Anti-lock braking system
Brakes > ABS / EBS / ESC > Anti-lock braking system
 Any 79 ×4.8 2.5% Likely common fault pattern
7 Catalyst emissions
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Catalyst emissions
 Any 193 ×4.1 6.1% Likely common fault pattern
8 Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
 Rear 80 ×2.3 2.5% Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Wear patterns

These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.

# Pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Brake discs (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
 Rear 175 ×4.2 5.6% Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault
2 Brake discs (front)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
 Front 144 ×2.4 4.6% Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Parking brake control — Lever
Brakes > Parking brake control > Lever
 Any 34 ×15.9 1.1% Elevated vs peers
2 Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Front 277 ×12.3 8.8% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Exhaust system (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Rear 95 ×9.1 3.0% Likely common fault pattern
4 Exhaust system
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Any 163 ×7.8 5.2% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Rear 22 ×5.0 0.7% Elevated vs peers
6 Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Plate brake tester > Service brake performance
 Rear 22 ×3.8 0.7% Elevated vs peers
7 Engine oil leaks (front)
Noise, emissions and leaks > Fluid leaks > Engine oil leaks
 Front 25 ×2.6 0.8% Elevated vs peers
8 Brake discs (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
 Rear 584 ×2.5 18.6% Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2018 Vauxhall Crossland on this page. Among 3,147 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Exhaust system (front) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 14.7× more often than peers; 199 observed failures; 6.3% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Exhaust system (front) (about 14.7× more often than peers; 199 observed failures; 6.3% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Exhaust system (front) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 14.7× more often than peers; 199 observed failures; 6.3% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2018 Vauxhall Crossland include Exhaust system (front), Drive shafts — Joints (front), Exhaust system. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2018 Vauxhall Crossland (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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