Van Guide

Vauxhall Vivaro — Buyer's Guide

Buying a Vauxhall Vivaro? Here are its common faults by severity, what to check on a working van, and how to verify a specific one's MOT and mileage history before you commit.

High

Typical Mileage

Vans cover far more than cars — check service history

Class 7

MOT Class

Vans 3,000–3,500kg (Class 4 below that)

Known Issues Tracked

Common faults for this van

Check a Specific Vauxhall Vivaro

Enter a registration to get the full MOT history, mileage check and tax status for any Vauxhall Vivaro. Add a Vehicle History Check for write-off, finance and stolen markers — essential on an ex-fleet van.

Run a Free Check

Common Issues — Vauxhall Vivaro

Timing chain wear (1.4 Turbo)HIGH

£500–£1,200 · Common on 1.4T Astra/Corsa/Mokka

Petrol1.3L–1.4L

Timing chain stretch (1.4 Turbo)HIGH

£600–£1,200 · Common on 1.4 turbo petrol

Petrol1.4L–1.4L

Wet timing belt degradation (1.5 BlueHDi)HIGH

£500–£1,400 · Belt-in-oil wear on 1.5 BlueHDi van diesels

Diesel1.4L–1.6L

Water pump / thermostat failureMEDIUM

£250–£550 · Common wear item

Petrol

DPF / EGR issues on CDTi dieselMEDIUM

£300–£800 · Common on CDTi diesels

Diesel2010–now

DPF / EGR faults (1.6 CDTi)MEDIUM

£300–£900 · On 1.6 CDTi diesels used for short trips

Diesel1.6L–1.6L

DPF / EGR faults (2.0 CDTi)MEDIUM

£300–£1,000 · On 2.0 CDTi diesels

Diesel1.9L–2.0L

Timing chain / injector faults (1.6 & 2.0 diesel van)MEDIUM

£400–£1,500 · On Vivaro/Trafic diesel vans

DieselVIVARO / TRAFIC / NV300 / PRIMASTAR

Injector & turbo faults (1.7 CDTi)MEDIUM

£400–£1,200 · On the Isuzu-sourced 1.7 CDTi diesel

Diesel1.6L–1.8L

AdBlue & DPF faults (1.6 BlueHDi)MEDIUM

£300–£1,000 · On post-2014 1.6 BlueHDi diesels

Diesel1.6L–1.6L2014–now

DPF & EGR faults (1.3 CDTi)MEDIUM

£250–£800 · On the 1.3 CDTi (Fiat MultiJet) used for short trips

Diesel1.3L–1.4L

Swirl flaps & DPF faults (1.9 CDTi)MEDIUM

£300–£1,000 · Swirl-flap & DPF issues on the 1.9 CDTi (Z19DT) Astra/Vectra/Zafira

Diesel1.9L–1.9L

Injector & oil-pump faults (1.9 dCi/DTi — F9Q)MEDIUM

£300–£1,500 · Injector wear & oil-pump/starvation risk on the 1.9 dCi (Megane/Laguna/Trafic/Vivaro)

Diesel1.9L–1.9L

Based on commonly reported faults for this make/model. Individual vehicles vary — run a check for the full MOT and mileage history of a specific car.

What to Check on a Used Van

Verify mileage is consistent across MOT records — vans are clocked more often than cars
Look for clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear (heavy on high-mileage diesels)
Check DPF/EGR health, especially on vans used for short urban deliveries
Inspect the load area, sliding doors and rear suspension for hard use
Run a Vehicle History Check — confirm it isn't a write-off, stolen, or on finance