2016 Vauxhall Insignia 1.6L Diesel · SH16 TYY

With six MOT test entries recorded between 2021 and early 2026, this Insignia's roadworthiness profile is defined less by major structural or mechanical failure and more by a recurring pattern of tyre-related defects. The most concerning item in the file is a dangerous failure recorded on 31 January 2025 for a nearside front tyre with ply or cords exposed in the sidewall, an outcome that would have rendered the car illegal to drive away from the test station. The same test date also shows a separate pass with no advisories, indicating the tyre issue was rectified and the vehicle subsequently met standard pass criteria. Elsewhere, the advisory history points to three further tyre concerns: a nearside rear inner tyre worn close to the legal limit in the 2026 test, a nail in a nearside front tyre noted in November 2023, and a sidewall cut on a nearside front tyre from November 2021 that was not deep enough to reach the cords at that stage. The only non-tyre advisory across the entire record is a note from November 2021 that the nearside rear outer brake pads were wearing thin, which warrants attention given the mileage now on the odometer. The recorded mileage of 185,912 against an approximate age of ten years equates to an annual accumulation of around 18,591 miles, a figure well above the national average and consistent with sustained long-distance or high-utilisation driving rather than short urban commutes. There is a noticeable gap in testing between February 2023 and November 2023, and another between November 2023 and the early 2025 entries, which can be explained by the exemption from MOT testing for vehicles under three years old followed by a testing cycle that does not always produce a single annual record; the absence of any entries between November 2021 and January 2023 is more unusual and may reflect either a change of test station, a period off the road, or administrative gaps in the data. Either way, the high annual mileage means the braking system, suspension components, clutch or automatic transmission fluid, and engine ancillary drives have all been worked significantly harder than on a lower-mileage example, and consumable replacement cycles should be assumed to have been compressed accordingly. A prospective buyer should approach the test drive with the brake and tyre history front of mind. Given the nearside rear outer brake pad advisory from late 2021 and the high mileage since, the rear pads are almost certainly due for replacement, and on inspection the nearside rear caliper should be checked for binding or sticking, which would manifest as a pulling sensation under braking, uneven pad wear, or a hot-smelling wheel after driving. The front discs and pads should be measured directly through the wheel spokes for remaining friction material and disc thickness, as the front end typically carries the greater braking load on a front-wheel-drive Insignia of this generation. On the road, brake pedal feel should be firm and progressive, and any judder, vibration through the steering wheel under braking, or a soft pedal would indicate possible disc warping or hydraulic issues that have not yet surfaced in the MOT record. Listen also for any grinding or scraping from the rear corner during light braking, which would suggest the rear pads have finally worn to metal. The tyre pattern is the single most consistent theme of this file and warrants particular attention during a physical inspection. Four of the seven recorded entries flag nearside tyres specifically, with defects split between the inner shoulder, outer sidewall, and general tread depth, suggesting that the nearside wheels may be subject to either uneven camber, inconsistent inflation, or kerbing damage that has gone unrecorded. The buyer should inspect all four tyres and the spare for age-related cracking in the sidewalls, shoulder wear, and any bulges or exposed cords, as the January 2025 dangerous failure indicates this car has been operated on a compromised tyre at some point. On the test drive, any pulling to the left, vibration through the seat or steering, or uneven rolling resistance would be consistent with the recorded nearside wear pattern. Given the high mileage, it is also prudent to listen for suspension knocks or clonks over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would point to worn anti-roll bar links, drop links, or front strut top mount bearings, all known wear items on high-mileage Insignias of this era but not currently flagged in the MOT record.