Executive space at supermini money — the depreciation winner
The Insignia is Vauxhall's large family car, discontinued in 2022, and now offers extraordinary used value. Insignia A (2008-2017) models sell from £1,500-£5,000, while Grand Sport/Sports Tourer (2017-2022) models average around £5,500 with examples from £3,000-£12,500. Competes with Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, and Skoda Superb, but its severe depreciation makes it the cheapest way into a large, comfortable car. Ranked 21st of 26 executive cars in reliability surveys.
We track 13 known issues across the Vauxhall Insignia range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Vauxhall Insignia? Enter the reg to see which of our 13 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
Mk1 (2008–2017) — Petrol options included the 1.6 Turbo, 1.8 VVT, 2.0 Turbo, 2.8 V6 Turbo, with 2.0 CDTI on the diesel side. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Fuel system leakage (£200–£600 to address).
VXR (2009–2017) — Engine options included the 2.8 V6 Turbo. We track 1 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Timing chain wear (£800–£1,400 to address).
A (2017–2024) — Petrol options included the 1.5 Turbo, with 1.5 Diesel, 1.6 CDTI, 2.0 CDTI on the diesel side. Our database flags 9 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Fuel system leakage (£200–£600 to address).
MOT data reveals diesel Insignias suffer from fuel system leakage at rates 27x higher than the fleet average, classified as a dangerous defect due to fire risk. This affects both generations and multiple diesel engines, suggesting systemic issues with fuel line connections, high-pressure fuel pump seals, or injector sealing. Modern diesel fuel systems operate at extremely high pressures (over 2000 bar), making even small leaks potentially dangerous. The issue appears to worsen with age across all mileage bands.
Fuel system leakage presents an immediate fire hazard and must be addressed before driving. High-pressure diesel fuel can ignite from contact with hot engine components. Any visible fuel leakage requires immediate professional attention. The car should not be driven until the leak is identified and repaired.
Check for fuel smells around the engine bay and underneath the car. Look for staining or wetness around fuel lines and connections. Injector issues may cause rough running or misfires that are most noticeable at idle.
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve recirculates exhaust gases back into the combustion chamber to reduce NOx emissions. Carbon buildup from diesel combustion gradually blocks the valve and its associated pipework, preventing proper operation. This causes loss of power, rough idling, and can trigger engine management warnings. The issue is exacerbated by short journey patterns that prevent the EGR system reaching optimal operating temperature.
A blocked EGR valve reduces engine performance and can cause the engine management light to illuminate, resulting in MOT failure. If left unaddressed, carbon buildup can spread to other engine components including the intake manifold, requiring more extensive cleaning or replacement.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
The A28NET V6 turbo engine uses a timing chain system with hydraulic tensioners that can lose effectiveness over time, allowing chain slack to develop. This is accelerated by extended oil change intervals and the high stresses from turbocharging. Chain stretch affects valve timing precision, reducing performance and potentially causing valve-to-piston contact if the chain jumps teeth. This engine is particularly sensitive to oil quality and change frequency.
Severe chain stretch can cause the chain to jump timing, resulting in valve-to-piston contact and major engine damage requiring rebuild. Even moderate chain wear affects performance and fuel economy. Chain replacement requires substantial engine disassembly.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
Second generation Insignia turbo engines continue to suffer from timing chain stretch, particularly the A20NFT/A20NHT 2.0 turbo units. The hydraulic chain tensioners lose effectiveness over extended service, allowing chain slack that affects valve timing. This issue appears to be worse on engines with extended oil change intervals or where lower specification oil has been used. Chain wear is progressive and can eventually lead to engine damage if the chain jumps teeth.
Severe timing chain stretch can cause the chain to jump teeth, resulting in valve-to-piston contact and catastrophic engine damage requiring rebuild or replacement. Even moderate stretch reduces engine performance and fuel economy. Chain replacement involves significant engine disassembly and labour costs.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
The turbochargers fitted to A generation petrol engines are prone to bearing wear and actuator failures. Oil contamination from extended service intervals accelerates bearing wear, while the electronic actuators that control boost pressure can fail due to carbon buildup or electrical faults. Symptoms include loss of boost pressure, excessive smoke from the exhaust, and whistling noises. These turbochargers operate at high temperatures and rely on clean oil for bearing lubrication.
Turbo failure results in significant loss of power and poor fuel economy. Oil leaks from failed turbo seals can damage the catalytic converter. Complete turbo replacement is typically required as rebuilds are often uneconomical.
During a test drive, check for hesitation, lack of power or unusual whining from the turbo area. Watch for blue or white smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Check the oil condition and service history — turbos rely on clean oil.
For the full breakdown of all 13 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Vauxhall Insignia common problems page.
Based on 1.2M real DVSA MOT tests, the Vauxhall Insignia fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is emissions failure at 144x the fleet average, followed by suspension component fractured or (113x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Vauxhall Insignia MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 20k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include automatic transmission fluid (£200–£300).
See the full Vauxhall Insignia service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Vauxhall Insignia has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. Grand Sport (2017-2020) with the 2.0 CDTi 170bhp manual in SRi Nav or Elite Nav trim is the best buy — the 2.0 diesel avoids the 1.6 CDTi timing chain issue, and the Grand Sport body is a major improvement. For budget buyers, Insignia A (2013-2016) 2.0 CDTi SRi with full service history at £2,500-£4,000 is tremendous value. Avoid any car with the 1.6 CDTi diesel unless the timing chain has been replaced with the updated tensioner.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Vauxhall Insignia, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 13 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 13 known Vauxhall Insignia issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.