Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Vauxhall Insignia?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Vauxhall Insignia?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Vauxhall Insignia?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2016 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

43% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Vauxhall Insignia reliable?

Based on MOT data from 23,895 vehicles, the 2016 Vauxhall Insignia has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Vauxhall Insignia?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Vauxhall Insignia are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (51.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (50.9% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (32.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Vauxhall Insignia?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Vauxhall Insignia (2016)

23,895 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.9% first-time pass rate

2016 Vauxhall Insignia

CarHunch analysed 23,895 real MOT records for the 2016 Vauxhall Insignia. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Insignia passes its MOT at nearly the exact UK average of 79.8%, but a significant concern emerges in the dangerous defect rate: 42.6% of these vehicles have recorded at least one dangerous fault during their MOT history, well above typical levels and a red flag for prospective buyers. Petrol versions perform noticeably better at 83.1% first-time pass rate compared to the diesel majority at 79.5%, suggesting the diesel engines may require closer pre-purchase inspection.

At 68,161 miles average, these eight-year-old cars have covered a reasonable distance for their age, yet they're still racking up 1.8 failures and 9.1 advisories per vehicle on test—indicating persistent wear issues rather than one-off problems. Before committing to purchase, have a pre-buy inspection focused on the suspension, braking system, and engine bay, as the high dangerous defect prevalence points to deteriorating safety-critical components on this generation.

The 2016 Vauxhall Insignia has a decent first-time pass rate (80.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

80.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

42.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.8

Over 8.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

66k

Middle half: 50k–85k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 9.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 23,895 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 23,895 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 51.9%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 32.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 16.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Suspension & steering 15.3%

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 23,895 Vauxhall Insignia cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

83.6%

Petrol

2,068 vehicles

80.6%

Diesel

21,823 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 Vauxhall Insignia

Based on MOT data from 23,895 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (91%)	21,823	80.6%	1.83
Petrol (9%)	2,068	83.6%	1.52

Colour Breakdown

Based on 291,872 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 26.6%

77,770

Silver 24.1%

70,311

Grey 19.9%

57,954

White 13%

38,041

Blue 8%

23,258

Red 5.4%

15,748

Green 2%

5,839

Brown 1%

2,848

Maroon 0%

Purple 0%

Beige 0%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

65,699

typical

50,438

low mileage

84,896

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles fall between 50,438 and 84,896 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 50,438 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 50,438–84,896 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Vauxhall Insignias sit.

⚠ Over 114,609 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Vauxhall Insignia — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Vauxhall Insignias are still on the road.

Strong survival — 20,463 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.8

Avg failures per vehicle

9.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Vauxhall Insignia: All Insignia years → Which year to buy? →

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Vauxhall →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Vauxhall Insignia stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing