2018 Vauxhall Insignia — MOT failures & pass rate
73,782 MOT tests on the 2018 Vauxhall Insignia are in this dataset, and 87.1% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (12.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and brakes (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 3,000 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.4% in the 0-30k band and 20.2% in the 150k+ band, a 11.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.3% fail against 14.3% for diesel, a 4.0-point gap across 73,782 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 4,213 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 2,981 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,688 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 2,218 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 2,013 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 719 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 3,000 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,714 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,077 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,777 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,536 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 725 |
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 | 23.9% | 17,619 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.1% | 14,125 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.0% | 5,166 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 2,799 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 1,702 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 1,668 |
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 | 14,232 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 32,769 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 18,160 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 6,164 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,748 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 689 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 47,816 | 14.3% |
| Petrol | 25,966 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,113 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 15,102 | 13.0% |
| 2023 | 14,686 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 14,365 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 14,516 | 14.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Insignia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Brakes (4.0% 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.
- Visibility (3.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Vauxhall Insignias pass their MOT?
87.1% of the 73,782 2018 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Insignia?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by brakes (4.0%).
Does the 2018 Insignia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,782 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.