2008 Vauxhall Insignia — MOT failures & pass rate
895 MOT tests on the 2008 Vauxhall Insignia are in this dataset, and 75.8% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.3%) and lighting & signalling (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 42 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.3% | 92 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 87 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 68 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 58 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 51 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 42 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 41 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 38 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 33 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 32 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.9% | 277 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.4% | 254 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.2% | 199 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 168 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.9% | 133 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 90 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 80 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 245 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 334 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 149 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 496 | 26.2% |
| Petrol | 399 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 258 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 242 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 178 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 132 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 85 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Insignia
On a 2008 Insignia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Vauxhall Insignias pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 895 2008 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Insignia?
Suspension, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Does the 2008 Insignia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 30-60k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 895 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.