2020 Vauxhall Insignia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,526 MOT tests, the 2020 Vauxhall Insignia recorded an 88.5% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 10.9%, so the 2020 Insignia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and brakes (4.3%) 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 199 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Insignia fails 8.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.5% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (12.2% vs 10.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 197 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 160 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 93 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 78 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 33 |
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 | 199 |
| 2 | Wipers | 157 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 91 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 79 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 67 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 38 |
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 | 21.6% | 976 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 744 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 272 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 208 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 89 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 75 |
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 | 1,452 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,025 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 763 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 220 | 12.7% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 11.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,874 | 12.2% |
| Petrol | 1,652 | 10.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 74 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 1,501 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 1,506 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 1,439 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Insignia
On a 2020 Insignia, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.9% 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 (4.3% 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 (3.5% 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 2020 Vauxhall Insignias pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 4,526 2020 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Vauxhall Insignia?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by brakes (4.3%).
Does the 2020 Insignia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 11.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,526 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.