Used car guide

2014 Vauxhall Insignia: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Vauxhall Insignias, from 23,737 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

23,737MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
10,200typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Vauxhall Insignias than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    17.8% All 2014 cars
    8.2%
    Rough price £100–£300

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Number plate lights2.4× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    12.7% All 2014 cars
    5.2%
    Rough price £5–£40

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

  • Coil springs1.9× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    13.1% All 2014 cars
    6.8%
    Rough price £120–£300

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Sub-frame3.3× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    8.2% All 2014 cars
    2.5%
    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.

  • Exhaust system2.4× usual
    Vauxhall Insignia
    8.7% All 2014 cars
    3.6%
    Rough price £100–£500

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Better than most

Track rod end: 0.4% here, against 4.5% of all 2014 cars. Ball joint: 1.4% here, against 4.2% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    40% 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
    37% 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.

  • Brakes
    24% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    10% 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
    10% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20197,838Tyres 31%
201812,602Tyres 31%
201715,241Tyres 33%
201621,540Tyres 35%
201527,338Tyres 36%
201318,682Tyres 38%
201217,032Suspension 41%
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 2014 Vauxhall Insignias registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score