Buying a used Mahindra XUV500: 8 things to look out for

Since its launch in 2011, the Mahindra XUV500 has been the most popular SUV in its price segment. Thanks to its bold, ‘cheetah-inspired’ exterior design, powerful engines, decent ride quality, and a feature-laden cabin, the XUV500 has been a favourite among the mid-size SUV buyers of the country. The XUV500 even received a rather comprehensive facelift earlier this year, which means that the resale value of the earlier versions is likely to have reduced a bit. The Mahindra XUV500 is a popular SUV and has a huge demand in both used and new car markets. So, basically, it’s not easy to get a well-maintained one at almost throwaway prices. That said, many earlier batches of the XUV500 are known to be problematic and are on sale at rather attractive price points. However, buying these models can turn out to be a pretty bad decision. Hence, here, in this post, we have listed down eight things to look out for while buying a used Mahindra XUV500.

Is it from an early batch?

The XUV500 was launched in 2011. Cars from the 2011 or 2012 batches seem to have a lion’s share of niggles. As is the case with most Mahindra and Tata models, cars from the first 2 years of production are the ones that have a majority of problems. Over time, the manufacturer irons them all out on the basis of customer feedback. While a majority of these XUV500s are likely to have gone through a recall or two, it’s best to stay away from the 2011 and the 2012 models.

Inspect Clutch

Please note that clutch failure is a known problem with the XUV500s from the initial batches. While the vehicles from the recent batches come with improved clutch components, many owners of XUV500 from the initial few batches have experienced clutch failures. Hence, get the entire clutch assembly inspected in case the XUV500 you plan to buy is more than 3-4 years old.

Inspect Power Steering

A malfunctioning power steering system is another known problem with the XUV500s from the initial batches. There have been many reports of power steering oil leakage due to a leak in one of the rack/pinion assembly hydraulics. Again, the vehicles from the newer batches come with improved components and don’t have this problem. However, it’s still a good idea to get the entire power steering assembly checked by an expert.

Inspect Suspension

Please note that it’s also important to inspect the suspension as most of the suspension components are pretty expensive to replace. Uneven wear pattern of the rear tires is a sign of a malfunctioning rear suspension. It’s a pretty common problem with XUV500s that have clocked a high mileage.

Brake pads

Many XUV500 owners have complained about a lack of bite from the brakes. While the last two batches of the XUV500 don’t have this problem, cars that are more than 4 years old are likely to have this issue. The brake pads for the XUV500 have gone through multiple re-designs and the latest ones seem to be working properly. However, make sure that the brakes of the XUV500 you plan to buy have a sufficient bite.

Electronics

Finally, the electronics of the XUV500 are prone to malfunction. Many owners have reported about an unresponsive infotainment unit or a malfunctioning screen. Also, we urge you to check all the speakers properly using the Balance and Fade settings. Often, the speaker output gets affected due to a leakage in the door panel.

Check ITM

Those of you who plan to buy the AWD model should get the ITM (Interactive Torque Management) inspected as it’s prone to failure.

Check documents

These are some general points that should be kept in mind while buying any used car. Always make sure that all the documents of the car you plan to buy are in order. Also, SUVs like the Mahindra XUV500 are hot favourites of vehicle lifters. Hence, make sure that the seller isn’t trying to sell off a stolen vehicle to you. Also, make sure that the Registration Certificate, Insurance and Pollution Under Check Certificate are valid. It’s also a good idea to check the RC status online at parivahan.gov.in. Check the purchase invoice and the service booklet for any sort of anomalies. Finally, it’s wiser to go for XUV500s which are under extended warranty (5 yrs) so that you can have complete peace of mind.