2015 Vauxhall Insignia 1.6L Diesel · DS65 VBV

The defining mechanical theme of this Insignia is a broadly stable roadworthiness record over its eleven-year testing history, punctuated by a single failure in late 2021 and a handful of advisories that hint at wear beginning to accumulate on suspension and minor electrical items. Across eight recorded tests between November 2019 and November 2025 the vehicle has passed six times with no recorded defects, and the most recent assessment on 18 November 2025 also returned a clean sheet, suggesting no immediate test-detectable concerns at present. However, the underlying pattern is not entirely spotless. The 22 November 2021 test recorded a failed outcome with a fractured offside rear coil spring, an inoperative electronic stability control switch, and an offside rear number plate lamp issue, alongside an advisory about obscured items in the driver's view. That 2021 fail is the only recorded failure, and the advisories since then have been minor in nature, but the recurrence of suspension-related wear on the nearside rear upper arm pin or bush flagged in February 2025 does suggest the rear suspension geometry is beginning to demand attention. With 71,724 miles recorded against an eleven-year MOT history, annual mileage averages out at roughly 6,520 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and consistent with regular but moderate private use. The testing record is reasonably continuous on an annual basis, with no multi-year gaps that would suggest the vehicle was laid up or off the road, and the mileage progression between tests appears steady rather than showing sudden jumps or stagnation. That level of use is generally favourable for avoiding the corrosion risks associated with long periods of standing, particularly on underbody components and brake discs, while still being high enough that ordinary service items such as tyres, brake friction material, and suspension bushes will have seen realistic wear over time. At this mileage the timing chain, clutch, and turbocharger (where fitted) are all components that would benefit from documented service history verification, as MOT records alone do not confirm internal engine condition. Given the specific components flagged, the rear suspension area is the obvious priority for a physical inspection. The fractured offside rear coil spring recorded in 2021 and the subsequent advisory on the nearside rear upper arm bush indicate that the rear axle is the part of the car most likely to need remedial work. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, pay particular attention to any rear-end instability over bumps, and check for uneven tyre wear on the rear pair which would point to geometry issues caused by worn trailing arm or upper link bushes. The vehicle should also be inspected visually for any signs of rust on the rear spring seats and shock absorber mountings, as road salt exposure in this age of car can accelerate corrosion in these areas even when not yet flagged on an MOT. The remaining advisories are less urgent but still worth verifying. The TPMS advisory from February 2025 should be confirmed as resolved, either by checking that all four sensors are present and functioning or by confirming whether the vehicle was subsequently re-coded. The February 2025 advisory for defective front wiper blades should likewise be checked by hand, as perished or split blades cause smearing rather than clean clearing. With the 2021 stability control switch fault now four years old, the switch should be operated through its modes during a pre-purchase inspection to confirm the warning light behaves correctly and the system engages and disengages without error messages on the dashboard. Finally, an underbody inspection for surface corrosion on brake pipes, subframe mounting points, and exhaust hangers is sensible on any eleven-year-old Insignia, even though no corrosion advisories have yet appeared on the MOT record.