2009 Vauxhall Insignia SE 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A looker that's so-so at best

Faults:

Nothing really - the gearbox went at 85k due to accident damage, but that's pilot error, not the car's fault.

General Comments:

I found the performance to be adequate for the small petrol motor - 6th gear @ 85mph all day on the motorway returning 35 - 38 MPG, which I thought was OK. It's a straight line cruiser and not a car for the twisties.

The SE was well equipped - a DAB radio is a must these days - yet despite all this and peerless reliability, I never bonded with this motor and wouldn't have another.

Overall it leaves an indelible blank on the memory!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 20th July, 2013

2009 Vauxhall Insignia Elite Nav 2.0 CDTI turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Good

Faults:

Heated seats - the car has been in and out of the garage approx 20 times. The driver's seat has failed every year since I have owned the car, and the passenger seat has failed twice. I had to complain direct to Vauxhall to replace the leather seat cover, as the seat had been removed so many times the stitching was coming apart. The latest fiasco is that I have been waiting 7 weeks for a modified part, which is on back order and no expected date. The driver's seat part failed within 12 months of last replacement, so should be covered under the part warranty, but whilst waiting for the back order part, the passenger seat has failed again, but there is a question mark whether Vauxhall will pick up the cost for this, as the manufacturer warranty has expired. I will be challenging this, as this is a known fault, and Vauxhall have not exactly gone out of their way to rectify their faulty design.

Each year, when the temperature is warm (about 21 degrees), after moving off from cold, the car goes into a spasm. About 2 minutes into the journey, I have moved into 6th gear at 50+ mph and the car starts a major misfire / stuttering. This lasts for about 30 seconds and then clears. Vauxhall can't find a fault as it is intermittent and no fault found, but something is not right.

Vauxhall front badge on the grille has snapped off. Luckily I spotted this before it came completely off and glued it back on, but I have seen other Insignia models with the front badge missing.

Rear brake discs replaced at 28000 miles due to brake pads scoring the discs. No warning light or code was displayed telling me that pads were low. Handbook says it will. 28K for rear discs is ridiculous, especially as I do mostly motorway driving and very little heavy braking.

General Comments:

The car has reasonable pick up, and mechanically has been reliable, bar the heated seats.

Plenty of room and a nice cabin lay out.

Fuel economy - averages 43.6 MPG for normal driving. The most I have seen was 53.6 MPG by filling up, joining a motorway straight away and cruising at 56mph for the rest of the journey - could be better.

Rear boot narrows so can be a little restrictive loading wide items - wish I had gone for the sports tourer.

Despite the problems, I still love the car and it does pretty much what I want it to. I will keep the car for some time yet, and expect to do 150K+, but following the ongoing problems with the heated seats, I'm not sure if I will stay with Vauxhall in the future.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 10th May, 2013

2009 Vauxhall Insignia SRi 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great

Faults:

Computer keeps coming up with an alarm that says A/C off due to engine overheating.

General Comments:

Love it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th May, 2011

27th Jun 2023, 18:25

Faulty temp sensor will give that message even when everything else is OK.

2009 Vauxhall Insignia SRi 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Faults:

I bought the car in December last year, and have to say I was impressed with it. But after 2 weeks, I could hear a grinding come squeal noise coming from the brakes as I drove. I have taken it into Vauxhall, who said straight away they will change the brake system, as it is a known problem. I will have to wait a week, as they have run out of parts, due to the increase in this problem with other cars. I will keep you all up to date.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 14th January, 2011

2nd Mar 2012, 14:33

Hello. I have a 2012 2.0 CDi SRi Insignia. Took it to Vauxhall. They said they have never seen this before. It could be the brake pads, as they are now made without asbestos. Don't know what to do, as the grinding is getting worse every day, and I've only done 3000 miles. It's driving me mad, as I can now feel it through the pedals. Any ideas?

21st Mar 2013, 22:37

I live in North Cornwall where it is fairly hilly. Allegedly the taxis around here are all on THREE sets of disc pads per year. I used to commute using a Rover SD1 V8 auto. The journey involved a climb to about 300 to 400 feet, then a drop to almost sea level, then another climb. Brake pads would be down to the steel in six months - they are a consumable item!

Way back along I repaired a Telma Retarder brake controller fitted to a stone hauling lorry. The controller had a corroded joint in it. "Wow I'm glad to have that fixed" said the bloke "as without that the brakes only last about a fortnight!"

Note that new cars are put together in a hurry, and it is likely that the brake pad sliders might not be treated with "Coppaslip". A lot of jobs on a new car are actually the responsibility of the dealer.

As to new cars, I can remember a garage getting a brake testing machine when these became part of the MOT (prior to that the brakes were tested on public roads). Several new cars were tried on the testing machine and ALL failed the test! This is because it takes time for the brakes to "bed in".

Where I live, the local Motor Factors supply "Mintex" pads in hologrammed boxes and the pads are very good. Avoid counterfeit parts at all costs.

5th Jul 2021, 22:48

Interesting comments. I know these comments were written a while ago, but did any of you get the brake pad issue resolved? Was it exclusive to this car or all modern cars after the asbestos removed from pads became the norm?