Common Car Problems by Manufacturer
Every make of car has its known weaknesses — the faults that come up again and again in workshops, MOT bays and trade auctions. After twenty years in the motor trade I can tell you the difference between a good used buy and an expensive mistake is rarely luck: it’s knowing what a particular make tends to get wrong, and checking for it before you hand over money.
That’s what these guides are for. For each manufacturer below we cover the recurring problems by model and engine, what the warning signs look like, and what a fix tends to involve — so you can walk into a viewing knowing exactly where to poke.
How to use these guides: read the page for the make you’re considering, then cross-check the specific car. Its MOT history will show whether the known faults have already surfaced as advisories or failures, its service history shows whether the preventative work was done, and a full car history check rules out the problems no inspection can spot — write-offs, finance and clocking.
Pick your manufacturer
BMW
Timing chains, VANOS and cooling systems — where the “ultimate driving machine” needs the ultimate service record.
Mercedes-Benz
From rust on older cars to electrical gremlins on newer ones — what to check, star by star.
Toyota
Famously reliable, but not fault-free — the known issues behind the reputation.
Land Rover
Air suspension, electrics and oil leaks — why the service record matters more here than on almost any other badge.
Peugeot
Timing belts, electronics and suspension wear — the checks that matter most on the popular French models.
Nissan
CVT gearboxes and Qashqai quirks — what to look for on the UK’s favourite crossovers.
Skoda
VW Group underpinnings mean VW Group issues — DSG gearboxes and timing-chain checks by engine.
Ford
EcoBoost engines and Powershift gearboxes — the checks every Fiesta and Focus buyer should make.
Before you buy any of them
Known faults are only half the picture. For the model-by-model view — engines worth having, trims to seek out, and what to check on the test drive — see our used car model guides. And whatever the badge, run a free car check before you commit: the most expensive problems are the ones that don’t show up on a driveway inspection.