2014 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0L Diesel · FG14 XBH

The most recent DVSA examination on 4 August 2025 resulted in a failed MOT outcome, which is a notable concern given that the vehicle had passed cleanly at the previous test on 5 August 2024. Although the official record does not detail the specific reasons for refusal, the test on 2 August 2023 also failed before passing the following day, suggesting either a retest after remedial work or intermittent issues that have surfaced around the annual test cycle. The pattern of mixed results over the last three years, with two failures bracketing clean passes, indicates a maintenance profile that cannot be considered consistently stable. Prospective buyers should treat this as a flag demanding full disclosure of the rectification work undertaken between August 2025 and the present date, ideally supported by corresponding invoices, before considering purchase. With a recorded mileage of 157,272 miles against an age of roughly twelve years, this Insignia is accumulating approximately 13,106 miles annually, which sits at the higher end of typical usage and points to substantial mechanical wear across major drivetrain, suspension, and braking components. High-mileage diesel and petrol Insignias of this generation commonly suffer from tired suspension bushes, worn lower arm and anti-roll bar link bushes, degraded coil springs, and stretched timing chain hardware on the higher-output petrol units. The annual MOT mileage gap between 2022 and 2025 appears broadly consistent with steady operational use rather than long periods of standing, which reduces the risk of seized brake calipers and severe underbody corrosion but increases the likelihood of wear-related component fatigue, particularly on the clutch, dual-mass flywheel (if manual diesel), turbocharger actuation, and injector balancing on diesel derivatives. Because the MOT records are devoid of any advisory notes or defect entries, there is no documented steer toward specific components, so the physical inspection must be guided by the vehicle's age and high accumulated use. On a test drive, listen carefully for any suspension clonks or knocks over uneven surfaces, which would indicate perished or split suspension bushes, dropped coil springs, or failing top mounts; any uneven or scalloped tyre wear pattern will corroborate such findings on close inspection of the wheels. The braking system should be evaluated for vibration through the steering wheel or pedal under firm application, suggesting warped or excessively worn front discs, and the vehicle should be held on a slight incline with the handbrake to confirm that calipers are not binding and releasing correctly. Cold-start behaviour should be observed for excessive smoke, rough idle, or hesitation, all of which can indicate aged sensors, vacuum leaks, or worn engine mounts consistent with very high mileage. A thorough pre-purchase inspection should also encompass items that deteriorate with calendar age regardless of mileage, including the condition of all tyre sidewalls for cracking or perishing, the health and charge state of the 12V battery, and the date codes on any perished rubber coolant and fuel hoses. Brake fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid should be considered overdue for renewal if there is no documented evidence of recent servicing, as these degrade hygroscopically over time and can compromise braking performance and corrosion protection within the cooling circuit. A handheld OBD-II diagnostic scan is highly advisable to surface any stored fault codes relating to emissions, lambda sensors, EGR function, or DPF regeneration history (if a diesel), none of which would necessarily appear on an MOT record but which carry significant rectification cost on this platform. Given the failure on the most recent test, a clear and verifiable account of repairs made, accompanied by an independent pre-purchase inspection by a qualified technician, is strongly recommended before committing to purchase.