Used Vauxhall Corsa buying guide (2014–2019): common problems and what to check
The Corsa E, sold from 2014 to 2019, is cheap to buy, cheap to insure in its smaller-engined forms and simple to get repaired. It is fundamentally reliable, but many have been first cars, so clutches and bodywork can have had a hard life.
By CarKept · Sources checked
What Vauxhall Corsa MOT results show
73.3% of 1,344,866 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests passed in 2024, across every generation of the model. Pass rate drops sharply with age: the Vauxhall Corsa tested at 0–3 years pass 91.1% of the time, compared with just 62.9% at 15+ years.
The biggest drop in pass rate for the Vauxhall Corsa comes between 3–6 years and 6–10 years old, from 87.0% to 74.9%. If you are looking at one in or just past that range, read its MOT history closely.
The areas it most often fails on:
- Lights and electrics: in 50.8% of failed tests. 31.1% of tests at 15+ years failed on lights and electrics, against 2.4% at 0–3 years.
- Suspension: in 37.1% of failed tests. 24.2% of tests at 15+ years failed on suspension, against 0.5% at 0–3 years.
- Brakes: in 25.0% of failed tests. 14.9% of tests at 15+ years failed on brakes, against 2.5% at 0–3 years.
- Tyres: in 19.4% of failed tests. 8.6% of tests at 15+ years failed on tyres, against 3.5% at 0–3 years.
- Windscreen and wipers: in 18.5% of failed tests.
Timing chain rattle and misfires
Parkers reports that poor servicing can wear the timing chain tensioners, leading to a rattling chain. Listen carefully when the engine starts from cold. High-mileage cars can suffer chain stretch even when they have been looked after.
Worn ignition coil packs can cause a rough idle and hesitation. Some specialists advise replacing the spark plugs every 36,000 miles. Any roughness on the test drive is worth investigating.
Electrical gremlins
Parkers describes the Corsa as prone to hard-to-trace electrical faults. Test every electric window, the central locking, door mirrors, air conditioning and the infotainment screen. Plug your own phone in to check the USB connection, which can be glitchy with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Cars with stop-start use a more expensive AGM battery. A weak one can cause odd electrical behaviour.
Clutches and gearboxes
Clutch wear is common on cars driven by new drivers. Accelerate hard in a high gear: if the revs rise without the car speeding up, or the biting point is high, a replacement is due.
The six-speed automatic is generally reliable when serviced. The Easytronic automated manual still has a conventional clutch to wear and, Parkers notes, is difficult to repair.
Bodywork, diesels and recalls
Check bumpers for cracks and scrapes, wheels for kerb damage and tyres for sidewall bulges. The heated windscreen should show fine heating wires; a replacement screen without them may be a cheap substitute.
On a diesel, be wary of any sign the particulate filter has been removed. That is illegal and should fail an MOT. Check the registration on GOV.UK’s recall checker too.
Before you buy any Vauxhall Corsa
Check its MOT history. Enter the registration below to see every past test, including failures, advisories and the mileage recorded each time. Repeated advisories for the same thing, or a mileage that goes backwards, are worth asking about.
Check for open recalls on GOV.UK, and ask for proof the work was done.
Ask for the service history, with invoices. Most of the problems above are made worse by missed or late servicing. How to check Vauxhall service history.
Looking at a Vauxhall Corsa?
Enter its registration for the full MOT history: every test, failure, advisory and recorded mileage.
Have service invoices? Upload and keep them with your car’s history →
Frequently asked questions
- Is a used Vauxhall Corsa reliable?
- The 2014–2019 Corsa is generally reliable, but Parkers highlights electrical faults and timing chain rattle on poorly serviced cars. A comprehensive service history matters more than mileage.
- What should I check on a used Corsa test drive?
- Listen for chain rattle from a cold start, feel for a slipping clutch in a high gear, and test every electrical feature including the USB connection. Check the bodywork and wheels for damage.
- Is the Corsa Easytronic gearbox worth buying?
- Parkers describes it as fairly robust but notes it still has a conventional clutch to wear out and is difficult to repair. The six-speed torque-converter automatic is the more dependable choice.