2016 Vauxhall Insignia 1.6L Diesel · DX66 RBY

A clear pattern of edge wear on the rear tyres has emerged across consecutive tests, with both nearside and offside rear tyres flagged at the legal limit during the 2025 inspection cycle. The 2025-11-04 test was failed outright due to two major defects involving the offside headlamp and offside rear headlamp not functioning on dipped beam, though the vehicle was subsequently presented six days later on 2025-11-10 and passed once those lighting faults were rectified. Prior to this recent cluster, the 2022 and 2024 tests returned clean passes with no advisories at all, indicating the car had been broadly sound for several years before this rear-tyre and lighting issue arose. The only earlier advisory of note was in October 2023, when both front tyres were noted as worn close to the legal limit, alongside an observation that a child seat was obstructing proper inspection of the adult belt. Overall, the mechanical trajectory has shifted from a stable, clean history into a phase requiring closer scrutiny of tyre condition and electrical components. Covering approximately 131,192 miles over a ten-year life equates to an annual accumulation of around 13,100 miles, which is notably above the national average for a vehicle of this age and points to consistent, sustained use rather than periods of being laid up. There are no significant gaps in the recorded MOT history that would suggest long-term storage, and mileage accumulation has been steady year on year, which typically accelerates wear on suspension linkages, brake discs and pads, clutch assemblies, and drivetrain mountings. Higher-mileage Insignias of this generation are particularly prone to rear axle bush deterioration, front lower arm wear, and EPAS (electric power steering) motor strain under frequent driving conditions, so the usage profile here warrants a mechanical sympathy test rather than just a visual once-over. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas for inspection mirror the specific advisories already recorded. The recurring rear-tyre edge wear across two consecutive tests suggests possible rear wheel alignment deviation or worn rear suspension bushes allowing uneven camber, so during a test drive listen for clonking noises from the rear over broken tarmac and check whether the car tracks straight without a steering pull. The headlamp failures on dipped beam in late 2025 could indicate deteriorated bulb connectors, wiring loom chafing, or a failing lighting control module, so verify both headlamps illuminate crisply on dip and main beam, and inspect the connector housings for signs of melting or corrosion. Given the mileage, the brake discs should be measured for lip and thickness, the front lower wishbones and anti-roll bar drop links should be rocked by hand for play, and the rear trailing arm bushes checked for splitting or movement, as these are known wear points on high-mileage Insignias. Finally, while no corrosion advisories have yet appeared on the MOT record, Insignias of this vintage are recognised for subframe and rear axle corrosion once they cross the 100,000-mile threshold, so a thorough underbody inspection using ramps or a lift is strongly advisable. Check for any signs of oil seepage from the cam cover gasket and turbo seals if a diesel variant, as well as coolant staining around the water pump and thermostat housing. A compression test or at minimum a thorough cold-start observation would also be prudent given the mileage, listening for any irregular diesel knock or timing chain rattle on petrol variants. With the rear tyres clearly due for replacement and the headlamp issue now resolved, the immediate rectification costs appear modest, but the higher-than-average mileage means consumable wear items should be budgeted for in the near term.