2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Sub-frame2.8× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  9.4% All 2012 cars

  3.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Individual direction indicators3× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  8.8% All 2012 cars

  2.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Headlights2.5× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  9.8% All 2012 cars

  4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2.7% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

• Number plate lights1.8× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  11.9% All 2012 cars

  6.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Common 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  40% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Suspension
  35% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  34% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Brakes
  26% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Exhaust and emissions
  9% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  9% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Dashboard and lighting electrical faults

  Owners report dashboard displays and interior lights switching off at random.

  At the viewing: On the test drive, watch the dash displays and try every interior and exterior light.

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Insignia Mk1 problems

• Recalls to check

  Recalls covered the driver's airbag (from November 2010), electric window anti-trap (January 2011), estate tailgate struts (estates built up to March 2015) and steering (some cars built in April 2016).

  At the viewing: Ask a Vauxhall dealer to check the VIN for any recall work still outstanding.

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Insignia Mk1 problems

• Rear brakes that bind

  Rear brake pads on earlier cars could bind. Vauxhall later redesigned the pads.

  At the viewing: After the test drive, carefully feel near (not on) each rear wheel for one that's much hotter than the others, and listen for rubbing.

  If it needs doing: Brake pads (one axle), about £75–£175. ClickMechanic

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Insignia Mk1 problems

• Buckled 19- and 20-inch alloys

  The large optional alloy wheels can buckle, causing vibration and a harsher ride.

  At the viewing: Look along each wheel rim for dents and feel for vibration at motorway speed.

  Source: Auto Express: used Vauxhall Insignia Mk1 problems

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has it had any electrical faults or warning lights?
2. Has all the recall work been done?
3. Have the rear brakes been replaced recently?
4. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2012 Vauxhall Insignia diesel as on other cars the same age.)