Used Vauxhall Corsavan 2014-2018 reliability

There are just two trim levels options available on the Corsvan, the first of which is appropriately called Corsavan, and the other Sportive.

The base model vehicle is well-equipped and gets Bluetooth, DAB radio, six airbags, electric windows, electric mirrors, tyre pressure monitoring and speed sensitive steering as standard.

Sportive Corsavans add air-conditioning, metallic paint, 16-inch alloys, a heated windscreen, various trim steering wheel and gearstick, cruise control, automatic headlights and automatic wipers. Sportive versions also get colour-matched mirrors, front fog lights and a set of super grippy sports seats that really don’t feel like they belong in a van, but are comfortable nonetheless. It’s a huge amount of additional equipment which was all included for around £1000 more over the base model when they were sold as new.

The Corsavan was sold with a wide selection of optional extras, including electronic climate control, heated seats and heated steering wheel, Bluetooth and DAB radio. The latter two are integrated into the optional IntelliLink 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and there was also the option of adding 16-inch alloy wheels and rear parking sensors to the van as well. As a result, it is worth checking differences in specs to find fully-loaded examples - which are often similarly priced - when you come to buy.

Also available is a Technical Pack, which includes forward collision alert, lane departure warning, rear parking camera, traffic sign recognition and a following distance warning indicator.

The Vauxhall Corsavan was conceived as a load-lugger for the city, so the first thing to check is for any body dents or scratches. If it is fitted with alloy wheels check that they haven't been excessively kerbed, too.

Steering rack may fracture

Due to a problem with the manufacturing process of the steering rack, the steering gear might break under load – ie. when manoeuvring at low speed. This affects cars made between 18 November 2014 and 28 January 2015, so your Vauxhall dealer will be able to check the build date of the steering rack against this to work out if it needs to be replaced.

Loss of stability

The connection between the steering knuckle and the lower control arm may not have been assembled correctly at the factory. If this connection breaks, then you will no longer have full control of the vehicle. This applies to models that were built between 30 June 2014 and 28 September 2015. A Vauxhall dealer should be able to inspect and then rectify any issues for you if your car is one of those affected by this recall.

Loss of steering control

Differing from an earlier recall for steering rack problems, there has also been a problem with the steering knuckles of Corsas produced between 23 June 2015 and 30 July 2015 that haven't been manufactured correctly. In time, these knuckles might fail and cause you to lose control of the direction of the vehicle. The manufacturing date stamp of the relevant parts can be checked by a dealer to confirm if your car needs further work or not.

Curtain airbags may not deploy correctly

The curtain airbags that are designed to protect your head in a side impact might not deploy correctly in a collision. This only applies to examples built between 25 August 2016 and 1 December 2016 and you should be able to find out if your car is affected by this when you speak to a Vauxhall dealer.

Handbrake may disengage

The handbrake may disengage on some vehicles produced between 26 August 2016 and 30 January 2017. Affected vehicles should have the assembly replaced as a precaution and a Vauxhall dealer will be able to tell you if this applies to your car, and if the work has already been carried out.

In our most recent reliability survey, the Corsa finished in 22nd place out of 25 cars in the small cars category. Vauxhall as a brand scored poorly, finishing in 27th place out of 31 manufacturers.

If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.