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Before you buy a used Opel Insignia A.

2008–2017 · Petrol / Diesel · 2 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Opel Insignia A, real photo of this generation
M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 2 of its engines.

1.4 / 1.6 / 2.0 Turbo

Petrol

  • Insignia A radar moisture causes bus interferenceElectrical and electronic systems
    Period mentioned
    Bulletin-specific period and equipment stated in each assignment.
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: Only Insignia A 2013–2015 fitted with Lane Change Assistant and the rear left radar described by HELLA; check equipment and moisture/corrosion before attributing the fault.

2.0 CDTI

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Opel Insignia A
EngineDocumented faults
1.4 / 1.6 / 2.0 TurboPetrolFewest documented55 with conditions
2.0 CDTIDiesel65 with conditions

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.4 / 1.6 / 2.0 Turbo (Petrol).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

We have no official recalls on record for this model. Our list is not complete: ask anyway, with the chassis number.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Opel dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 7 checked

EGR / timing

  • Look out for: Coolant loss with no visible leak or white smoke (cracked EGR cooler); power loss and rough idle (clogged EGR); on the 2.0 CDTI, water pump noise before the belt breaks.

    Ask them to check: Watch the coolant level, check whether the 2.0 CDTI belt and water pump were replaced together and inspect the EGR.

Electrical and electronic systems

  • Look out for: Parking-aid, radio, climate-control, electric-tailgate or cluster faults; control-unit communication problems.

    Ask them to check: Inspect the left rear radar and connector; if corroded, replace the sensor and repair contacts according to diagnosis, then perform manufacturer calibration.

  • Look out for: The power tailgate does not open or close, or fails now and then.

    Ask them to check: Check by VIN with Opel whether the campaign has been done. If the tailgate fails, you smell burning or see damp around the control unit, do not leave it: there is a fire risk.

Gearbox

  • Look out for: A whine that rises with speed, mainly in 5th and 6th (also in 1st and 2nd), a loose gear lever that moves on and off the throttle and, when advanced, gears jumping out. Left unrepaired, the bearing can break through the casing.

    Ask them to check: In a garage test: confirm whether the noise depends on road speed (wheel bearing, tyre) or the gear engaged (gearbox), and whether the lever moves under load. Check the oil for metal debris. Repair early: replacing all bearings and fitting the revised end case costs far less than a new gearbox.

Suspension and steering

  • Look out for: The link that guides a rear wheel (toe link) can break because of rust; if it does, that wheel is no longer properly guided and the rear of the car becomes unstable, with knocks or pulling when braking or cornering.

    Ask them to check: Check by VIN with Opel whether the campaign has been done. If you hear knocks at the rear or the car pulls when braking, do not carry on: have the rear-axle links checked on a lift. With the car raised, rust on the links can be seen.

Transmission

  • Look out for: Over time, the all-wheel drive may work less well because the rear differential clutch plates wear out early.

    Ask them to check: Check by VIN with Opel whether the campaign has been done (in Germany it was marked with a silver paint dot on the fuel-flap hinge). If the all-wheel drive fails, the garage checks the breather and the condition of the rear differential oil.

Engine

  • Look out for: Engine judder and noises in the exhaust, or loss of power with the engine warning light on.

    Ask them to check: Ask Opel by VIN whether the ECU has the software from both campaigns (each takes half an hour and is free). If the engine light comes on with loss of power, read the codes before replacing parts; if the exhaust smells burnt or smokes, stop and let it cool.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

U0140

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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