2014 Vauxhall Insignia diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Vauxhall Insignia diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Vauxhall Insignia diesel than on all cars registered in 2014.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints2.2× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  15.2% All 2014 cars

  7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

  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 lights2.6× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  11.9% All 2014 cars

  4.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.4% of all 2014 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.

• Coil springs2.3× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  12.8% All 2014 cars

  5.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9.6%, against 3% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

  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.

• Exhaust system2.5× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  7.8% All 2014 cars

  3.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.9% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

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

• Sub-frame3.3× usual
  Vauxhall Insignia

  4.9% All 2014 cars

  1.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2014 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.

Common 2014 Vauxhall Insignia diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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
  21% 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
  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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Known faults on the 2014 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 2014 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 suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2014 Vauxhall Insignia diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2014 Vauxhall Insignia diesel as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2014 Vauxhall Insignia diesel as on other cars the same age.)