Used car guide

2012 Vauxhall Insignia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Vauxhall Insignias, from 17,032 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

17,032MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
9,100typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Vauxhall Insignias than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Sub-frame2.6× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    13.1% All 2012 cars
    5%
    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.

  • Individual direction indicators3.3× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    9.8% All 2012 cars
    3%
    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.

  • Headlamp2.2× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    10.4% All 2012 cars
    4.7%
    Rough price £40–£400

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

  • Number plate lights1.7× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    12.5% All 2012 cars
    7.3%
    Rough price £5–£40

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

  • Engine oil leaks1.6× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    11.4% All 2012 cars
    7.3%
    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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.3% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Ball joint: 1.2% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    41% 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
    27% 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
    13% 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%
201118,053Suspension 47%
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 2012 Vauxhall Insignias registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score