2011 Vauxhall Insignia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Vauxhall Insignia passed 77.7% of its 160,829 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 22.6%, so the 2011 Insignia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and suspension (9.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 9,220 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.8% versus 18.8%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.1% of the time against 22.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 32.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 19,859 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 15,692 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 11,706 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 9,498 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 5,919 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 4,403 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 9,220 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8,678 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 8,520 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 6,129 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5,391 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 4,773 |
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 | 32.4% | 52,137 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 43,250 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 35,126 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 27,145 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 24,565 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.6% | 20,200 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 965 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 8,968 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 37,331 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 55,319 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 36,845 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 20,831 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 130,361 | 22.4% |
| Petrol | 30,468 | 22.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 39,957 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 36,841 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 33,156 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 28,074 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 22,801 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Insignia
On a 2011 Insignia, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Tyres (7.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2011 Vauxhall Insignias pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 160,829 2011 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Insignia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 2011 Insignia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 160,829 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.