Used car guide

2011 Vauxhall Insignia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Vauxhall Insignias, from 18,053 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

18,053MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
8,300typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Vauxhall Insignias than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Engine oil leaks2.3× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    20.2% All 2011 cars
    8.9%
    Rough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Sub-frame2.5× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    14.5% All 2011 cars
    5.9%
    Rough price £300–£1,000

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

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    15.9% All 2011 cars
    7.6%
    Rough price £150–£400

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Individual direction indicators2.8× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    8.7% All 2011 cars
    3.1%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

  • Headlamp1.9× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    10.8% All 2011 cars
    5.8%
    Rough price £40–£400

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

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.5% here, against 10.8% of all 2011 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 0.5% here, against 6.1% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% 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
    28% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    22% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20197,838Tyres 31%
201812,602Tyres 31%
201715,241Tyres 33%
201621,540Tyres 35%
201527,338Tyres 36%
201423,737Suspension 40%
201318,682Tyres 38%
201217,032Suspension 41%
20109,913Suspension 50%
20096,532Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Vauxhall Insignias registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score