2009 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0L Diesel · DN09 WXP

A pattern of front-end lighting and headlamp aim irregularities has emerged across the DVSA history of this Vauxhall Insignia, combined with a fractured rear coil spring and insecure front brake caliper that have both triggered immediate refusals at test. The January 2026 entry is particularly telling: a recorded pass was accompanied on the same date by a failure for an offside front position lamp and excessive offside headlamp aim, suggesting the rectification work was completed in the same visit or these were pre-test defects that were subsequently addressed. The 2022 refusal for a broken offside rear coil spring is a safety-critical suspension failure that would have produced audible clonks and instability over bumps had the vehicle been driven in that state. Across six tests on file, two recorded failures, and an accumulation of advisories covering brake wear, shock absorber oil misting, and tyre edge wear, the record is mixed rather than reassuring. The most recent pass in January 2026 was issued alongside the same-day failure, so the underlying mechanical trajectory remains uncertain and warrants close inspection. Recorded mileage of 132,524 miles over a 17-year life equates to roughly 7,800 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and does not in itself flag underuse or excessive wear from mileage alone. There are, however, notable gaps in the testing chronology: no MOT entries appear between mid-2021 and January 2025, a period of nearly three and a half years. This could indicate the vehicle was either off the road, exempt from testing under the classic vehicle rules, or that tests were conducted without electronic records being captured in this dataset. From a mechanical standpoint, periods of standing followed by renewed use tend to expose weaknesses in brake calipers, suspension bushes, and flexible brake hoses as surface corrosion develops on otherwise stationary components, which aligns with the caliper mounting and coil spring failures observed. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the offside rear suspension area given the previously fractured coil spring, listening for any metallic rattles or clonks over uneven surfaces and checking for uneven ride height at the rear corners. The shock absorber oil misting advisory from January 2026 suggests seals are beginning to weep, so bouncing the rear of the car firmly and watching for excessive oscillation will help reveal whether damping is compromised. On the braking system, both rear calipers were flagged for binding in January 2025, and the offside front caliper was found insecurely mounted in 2022; a test drive should include several firm applications from speed to check for any pulling to one side, judder through the pedal, or a handbrake that fails to release cleanly, which would indicate a sticking caliper. Given the front brake disc and pad wear advisories from 2023, the discs should be inspected for lipping and the pads measured for remaining material, as further deterioration in the intervening period is plausible. Lighting and headlamp aim have been a recurring source of failure, with issues logged in 2021 and again in 2026, which may point to tired adjusters, corroded mounting points, or simply failed bulbs. A walkaround at dusk would reveal whether both front position lamps illuminate evenly and whether the beam pattern sits level and correctly aligned, with no dark patches or excessive dazzle. The nearside and offside front tyres were both flagged for edge wear in 2023 and the nearside was again noted in 2021, suggesting a possible tracking or suspension geometry concern that has not been resolved; uneven inner or outer shoulder wear on any replacement tyres would reinforce this suspicion. Finally, the under trays and engine covers noted in 2021 mean some components were obscured from view at test, so a pre-purchase inspection should specifically request their removal to confirm there is no oil leakage from the engine or corrosion around the subframe mounting points hidden from the tester.