Vauxhall Signum
From 1,961 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Signums fare better: 2007 models pass at 66.3% vs 71.3% for 2006.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 160 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 160 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 102 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 92 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 76 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 68 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 59 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 55 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 53 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 46 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 41 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 27.1% of Signum failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 44.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £144.
Vauxhall Signum on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 364 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 364. At this rate, roughly 6.1 years until none remain. Now at 13.5% of its peak (16,357 in 2009 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 776 | 1,437 | +0 | -54 | -54 |
| 2025 Q2 | 837 | 1,430 | +0 | -54 | -54 |
| 2025 Q1 | 880 | 1,441 | +0 | -105 | -105 |
| 2024 Q4 | 954 | 1,472 | +0 | -151 | -151 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,046 | 1,531 | +0 | -104 | -104 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,140 | 1,541 | +0 | -81 | -81 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,237 | 1,525 | +0 | -106 | -106 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,342 | 1,526 | +0 | -86 | -86 |
4 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signum Elegance Cdti | Diesel | 79 | 28% |
| Signum Design Cdti 150 | Diesel | 78 | 28% |
| Signum Elegance | Petrol | 74 | 26% |
| Signum Elite Cdti A | Diesel | 52 | 18% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 66.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2006 | 71.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 71.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 61.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Signums tested had between 98,122 and 158,791 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 130,888 median miles, the Signum has 0.024 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Vauxhall models
| Vauxhall Corsa | 70.9% |
| Vauxhall Astra | 72.5% |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | 67.2% |
| Vauxhall Mokka | 76.7% |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 75.3% |
Common questions
What is the Vauxhall Signum MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Signum has a 68.7% MOT pass rate based on 1,961 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Signum?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Signum is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 160 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Vauxhall Signums are on UK roads?
There are 776 Vauxhall Signums currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,437 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Signum at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Signum is 130,888 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 98,122 and 158,791 miles.
Buying a used Signum?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 68.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £144 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 27.1% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.