2013 Vauxhall Insignia — MOT failures & pass rate
136,639 MOT tests on the 2013 Vauxhall Insignia are in this dataset, and 78.2% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (20.1% fail rate), the 2013 Insignia comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.1%) 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 coil spring, tread depth and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 10,736 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.8% versus 15.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (22.2% vs 19.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.1% | 13,746 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 13,210 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 9,613 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 7,417 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 4,689 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 3,232 |
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 | 10,736 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 7,038 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 5,276 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 5,057 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 4,629 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 3,559 |
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 | 30.4% | 41,569 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 27,656 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.9% | 25,872 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 15,824 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.0% | 13,591 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 12,663 |
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 | 998 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,270 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 37,470 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 43,662 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 26,355 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 16,687 | 24.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 118,660 | 22.2% |
| Petrol | 17,976 | 19.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,595 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 29,339 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 28,227 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 25,938 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 23,540 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Insignia
On a 2013 Insignia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.1% 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.
- Tyres (7.0% 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 2013 Vauxhall Insignias pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 136,639 2013 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Insignia?
Suspension, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Does the 2013 Insignia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 136,639 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.