2014 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0L Diesel · DN14 XPE

The vehicle's most recent MOT test on 24 April 2026 was recorded as a Pass, achieved the day after a Fail on 23 April 2026. The Fail was driven by two major defects: a fractured nearside rear coil spring and an inoperative front position lamp. Both items were rectified to allow the subsequent pass, although the two advisories regarding nearside and offside front tyres being worn close to the legal limit were carried forward and remained outstanding at the point of test. Looking at the broader pattern from 2021 through to 2026, the maintenance trend is broadly stable, with clean passes in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025, but the cluster of advisories relating to front tyre wear recorded across the 2023 and 2026 tests suggests a recurring issue with front-end geometry, suspension component wear, or perhaps driving style. The 2023 advisory for thinning front brake pads also reinforces the impression that the front axle consumables are working harder than the rear, which is entirely consistent with the weight distribution and braking characteristics of this class of vehicle. Recorded mileage stands at 132,530 miles over approximately twelve years, yielding an annual average of around 11,044 miles per year. This is broadly typical for the age and class of the car and indicates consistent, regular use rather than extended periods of standing or conversely heavy commercial-style mileage accumulation. There are no large unexplained gaps in the recorded mileages between tests that would suggest clocking or extended inactivity, which is reassuring. The even spread of usage means wear-related components such as the clutch, turbocharger, dual mass flywheel if fitted, and engine internal wear will have accrued steadily, but without the elevated risk of seized brakes, perished coolant hoses, or damp-related electrical faults that plague very low mileage examples of similar age. The fractured rear coil spring recorded at the most recent test is a significant mechanical event worth careful attention. Coil springs in this age of Vauxhall Insignia are known to suffer from corrosion-induced fatigue, particularly on the rear axle, and once one side fails the offside spring is statistically likely to follow given identical age, loading, and corrosion exposure. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, observe whether the vehicle sits level or has dropped slightly on one side at the rear, and watch for any uneven tyre wear on the rear pair which can indicate altered geometry from a compromised spring. Replacement should ideally be carried out in axle pairs to avoid a repeat failure shortly afterwards, and the associated shock absorber should be inspected for damage from the broken spring contacting it. The recurring front tyre edge wear advisories merit specific investigation as this pattern typically points to worn front suspension bushes, tired drop links, weak top mounts, or alignment drift rather than simply tyre age. During any physical inspection, the buyer should examine the sidewalls of all four tyres for perishing and cracking given the vehicle's age, check that all tyres are of matching size and speed rating, and verify the manufacturing date codes. Given the mileage and age, attention should also be directed towards the timing belt or chain service interval status depending on the engine variant, the condition and age of the 12 volt battery which on a 2014 car is very likely due for renewal, the brake fluid which degrades on a calendar basis regardless of mileage, and a thorough inspection of the coolant system for perished hoses given that such hoses are a known weakness on this model. A scan for stored fault codes and a cold start observation to monitor for any timing chain rattle from the upper engine area would also be prudent given the accumulated mileage.