Used car guide · 2017–2022

Vauxhall Insignia B: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Vauxhall Insignia B did at its MOT in 2025 compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 38,507 MOT tests.

2018best year: 79% pass first time, 2 points below all 2018 cars
2022weakest year: 81% pass first time, 8 points below all 2022 cars
Brake padsthe weak spot that shows up in 4 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Vauxhall Insignia B, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

60%80%100%2017: 75% pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%) 75% 2017*2018: 79% pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%) 79% 20182019: 81% pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%) 81% 20192020: 84% pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%) 84% 20202021: 84% pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%) 84% 20212022: 81% pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%) 81% 2022
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
2017*75%78% -3Engine oil leaks 2.6× usual15,241
201879%81% -2Engine warning light 2.8× usual12,604
201981%84% -3Brake pads 1.6× usual7,839
202084%86% -2Brake pads 1.7× usual1,298
202184%87% -3Brake pads 1.9× usual907
202281%89% -8Brake pads 3.3× usual618

Weak spots across the Vauxhall Insignia B

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year of this generation. Repeat findings like these are much less likely to be chance.

  • Brake padsup to 3.3× usual

    Stands out in 4 years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Engine warning lightup to 3.7× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2020, 2019, 2018.

    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.

  • Engine oil leaksup to 3.1× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2019, 2018.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    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.

  • Headlight aimup to 1.7× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2019, 2018.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

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