2021 Vauxhall Insignia — MOT failures & pass rate
2,093 MOT tests on the 2021 Vauxhall Insignia are in this dataset, and 88.1% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and visibility (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 89 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.6% in the 0-30k band and 17.3% in the 90-120k band, a 10.7-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2023 against 11.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 93 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.8% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 71 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 48 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 36 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 89 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 79 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 38 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 28 |
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 | 20.7% | 434 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.9% | 313 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 133 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 86 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.1% | 85 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 51 |
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 | 682 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 950 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 378 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 75 | 17.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,906 | 11.7% |
| Petrol | 187 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 47 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 1,027 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 1,008 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Insignia
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.8% 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.
- Brakes (3.4% 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.
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 2021 Vauxhall Insignias pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 2,093 2021 Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Vauxhall Insignia?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by visibility (3.8%).
Does the 2021 Insignia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,093 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.