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Vauxhall Signum Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Vauxhall Signum reliable? We analysed 245,020 real MOT tests across 16,896 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 245,020 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.2%
Typical Mileage
83,030mi
Annual Mileage
8,076mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Vauxhall Signum is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Signum.

Vauxhall Signum Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Signum. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Vauxhall Signum MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Vauxhall Signum to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

77.5%
2011
71.4%
2008
71.1%
2007
70.8%
2006
69.2%
2005
68.2%
2004
68%
2003

Vauxhall Signum Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Vauxhall Signum fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 12,416
coil spring broken 10,006
Registration plate lamp not working 7,975
coil spring fractured 6,845
Brake pipe excessively corroded 6,785
coil spring incomplete 5,820
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,115
Exhaust system not adequately supported 4,772
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 4,451
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 4,204

Vauxhall Signum Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Signum owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,216 mi/yr
Typical
8,076 mi/yr
Average
9,220 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,730 mi/yr

Vauxhall Signum MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Signum year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 80 77.5% 41,460 55,910 86,239
2008 1,463 71.4% 57,379 88,242 118,848
2007 23,578 71.1% 57,515 86,542 118,840
2006 52,788 70.8% 56,827 85,243 116,100
2005 51,829 69.2% 56,262 83,689 114,355
2004 76,301 68.2% 54,878 81,123 110,563
2003 38,805 68.0% 55,282 81,014 110,018

How Long Does a Vauxhall Signum Last?

Based on 16,896 Vauxhall Signum vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.9 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Vauxhall Signum Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Signum MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
83,030 mi
75th Percentile
113,391 mi
95th Percentile
160,007 mi
Max Recorded
997,695 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Signum

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2011

77.5% MOT pass rate from 80 tests

Year to avoid
2003

68.0% MOT pass rate from 38,805 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Signum is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.5% across 80 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Signum Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Signum THIS CAR 69.2% 245,020 83,030 mi 23 yrs
Vauxhall Corsa 69.7% 26,893,546 58,908 mi 33 yrs
Vauxhall Astra 71.9% 25,288,868 76,280 mi 34 yrs
Vauxhall Zafira 71.9% 8,488,627 75,062 mi 27 yrs
Daewoo Lanos 67.4% 343,953 59,771 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Signum trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Signum?

The Vauxhall Signum has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.2% across 245,020 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Signum are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (12,416 recorded failures), coil spring broken (10,006), and registration plate lamp not working (7,975). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Vauxhall Signum owner drives around 8,076 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Vauxhall Signum models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Vauxhall Signum — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Signum reliable?
Based on 245,020 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Signum has a 69.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Signum?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Signum do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Signum does around 8,076 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Signum last?
Most Vauxhall Signum models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 16,896 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Signum?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Vauxhall Signum?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Signum is 2011 with a 77.5% pass rate across 80 tests.