2012 Vauxhall Insignia — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Vauxhall Insignia passed 78.0% of its 136,280 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (21.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests against 9.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 8,944 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.9% versus 16.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.9% of the time against 22.1% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 17,043 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 12,314 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 10,119 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.6% | 7,595 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 5,001 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 3,566 |
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 | 8,944 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 7,321 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 7,249 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 5,331 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 4,992 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 4,802 |
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 | 32.0% | 43,565 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.1% | 30,076 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.3% | 29,033 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 23,585 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.8% | 14,767 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 11,843 |
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 | 665 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 9,015 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 32,499 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 43,655 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 30,091 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 20,235 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 120,065 | 22.1% |
| Petrol | 16,215 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,496 | 20.9% |
| 2022 | 30,125 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 28,232 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 24,946 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 21,481 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Insignia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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 (7.4% 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 2012 Vauxhall Insignias pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 136,280 2012 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Insignia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 2012 Insignia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 136,280 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.