Large family car · 2003–2012 cars
Vauxhall Signum reliability
The Vauxhall Signum fails 44% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 5,385 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Vauxhall Signum before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 1% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 5,385
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Vauxhall Signum ages
Each point is the share of Vauxhall Signums of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Vauxhall Signum | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 42.2% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 44.6% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 46.6% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 45.7% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 40% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 39.2% | 43.4% |
By year
The best and worst Vauxhall Signum years
2006 cars come out best and 2007 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Signum | 1,229 | 45.8% | 4% more fails | 123,554 |
| 2006 Signum | 1,968 | 42.2% | 6% fewer fails | 121,272 |
| 2005 Signum | 1,042 | 42.9% | 4% fewer fails | 120,274 |
| 2004 | 734 | 49.3% | 11% more fails | 112,903 |
| 2003 | 271 | 39.1% | 10% fewer fails | 118,849 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Vauxhall Signum
Its weak spot is brakes: 21% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension19%5% above avg
- Lights and electrics18.6%15% below avg
- Brakes16.4%21% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure10%12% above avg
- Tyres9.2%21% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks7.6%6% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.7%9% below avg
- Steering1.9%54% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.2%60% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 6.93% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
CV joint boot split or insecure 4.72% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 3
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 4.48% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.88% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 5
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 3.53% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 6
Position lamp not working 3.19% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 7
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.03% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 8
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 2.97% of tests
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Vauxhall Signum's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit19.09%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy16.34%
- Brake disc pitted or scored13.74%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive11.7%
- Brake pads wearing thin8.15%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion8.1%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Vauxhall Signum
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 3
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel63%
- Petrol36.9%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Red, Green
Average engine size: 2.1 litres.
Compare
How the Vauxhall Signum compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Stinger | 10.7% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Exeo | 33.4% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG ZT | 35.1% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Signum | 44% | about average for its age |
| Alfa Romeo 159 | 42.6% | about average for its age |
| Peugeot 406 | 44.2% | 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën DS5 | 36.6% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Vauxhall models.
Questions
Vauxhall Signum questions, answered
Is the Vauxhall Signum reliable?
On MOT results, the Vauxhall Signum is about average: it fails 44% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 19 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Vauxhall Signum MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Signum are coil spring fractured or broken (6.93% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (4.72% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (4.48% of tests). By area, suspension fails 19% of its tests.
Which Vauxhall Signum year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2006 cars do best (6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2007 cars do worst (4% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Vauxhall Signum before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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