Diesel Vauxhall Insignia: MOT pass rate

73.1% of diesel Vauxhall Insignias pass the MOT first time, measured across 162,767 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 106,398.

Diesel against the other Vauxhall Insignia versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Vauxhall Insignia specifically, petrol is the strongest at 77.7%, and this diesel version sits 0.8 points below the 73.9% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Vauxhall Insignia had covered 106,398 miles at test, against 75,352 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Vauxhall Insignia page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Vauxhall Insignia

1. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.3% of tests (3.21x the national rate for this defect)
2. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3% of tests (2.46x the national rate for this defect)
3. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.3% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this defect)
4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 4.2% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this defect)
5. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 1.7% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect)
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 5.6% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)
7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.6% of tests (1.71x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.3% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this defect)
9. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.3% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.6% of tests

From 163,564 DVSA-tracked diesel Vauxhall Insignia tests, 2024, split out from the Vauxhall Insignia's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.73% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Vauxhall Insignia

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.9% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 10.5% of tests (2.03x the national rate for this defect)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.7% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this defect)
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 1.8% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)
5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.8% of tests (1.49x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 8.1% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 38.7% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 12.9% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.4% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
10. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.9% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)

From 163,564 DVSA-tracked diesel Vauxhall Insignia tests, 2024.

Other Vauxhall Insignia fuel types

• Petrol Vauxhall Insignia - 77.7%

All Vauxhall Insignia MOT data · Every model