Used Car Expert Fault Guides tell you the common Vauxhall Astra faults and wear items that can become problems and big bills for their owner.
Independent research indicated that using our fault guides to check a car before you buy it can save you an average of £300 in surprise bills and hidden problems.
That's because our Vauxhall Astra fault guides are written so that anyone can understand them – even if you know nothing about cars and have no tools. For every common fault, we tell you what to look for, what it means and what it costs.
Select your Vauxhall Astra fault guide:
Vauxhall Astra (1991 - 2004) Fault Guide
Vauxhall Astra (2004 On) Fault Guide
Vauxhall Astra (1991 - 2004) Fault Guide
We know of 22 VAUXHALL Astra (1991 - 2004) faults which our fault check guide makes it easy for you to spot and avoid.
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8 engine faults
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3 suspension wear items or faults
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2 interior problems
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2 bodywork issues
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7 recalls
Here's an example fault on the VAUXHALL Astra (1991 - 2004)
What to look for:
Check the service book and old invoices to establish that the cam belt has been changed at the correct intervals. On most engines this is 40,000 miles or 4 years.
What it means:
If the cam belt isn't changed on time, it will fail and seriously damage the engine, costing up to £1,200 to repair. The intervals vary from engine to engine so check with a local garage.
What to do
If in any doubt about when the cam belt was changed, ensure the cam belt, rollers and tensioners are all changed before driving the car anywhere. A cam belt change should cost around £250.
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Vauxhall Astra (2004 On) Fault Guide
We know of 9 VAUXHALL Astra (2004 On) faults which our fault check guide makes it easy for you to spot and avoid.
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3 engine faults
-
1 suspension wear items or faults
-
2 interior problems
-
1 bodywork issues
-
2 recalls
Here's an example fault on the VAUXHALL Astra (2004 On)
What to look for:
Check the paperwork to see if your car has a cam belt. If it does, it must be changed on schedule. Intervals can vary depending on the engine, for example CDTI engines are either 80,000 miles and 6 years or 10 years and 100,000 miles. On the smaller petrol engines, the cam belt should be changes every 4 years or 40,000 miles; others have chains and do not need changing.
What it means:
If the cam belt and associated parts (such as water pump and tensioner) have not been changed, and the mileage is over these boundaries, the cam belt is likely to fail soon. Usually the engine has to be replaced or at least re-built after a cam belt failure.
What to do
Ensure that the cam belt is changed before the car is driven anywhere if it is coming close to its interval. Changing the belt will cost £200.
Register to have full access to the VAUXHALL Astra (2004 On) fault guide.
Registered users also get access to our regional price guides, cars for sale email alerts, and many other benefits to help you buy a safe, reliable used car at a great price.