Electronic Brake Failure: Astra Owner Seeks Help

Hey! I had a similar issue with my 2014 Vauxhall Insignia last year. The electronic parking brake completely gave up, and the warning light kept flashing on the dash. Turned out the electric motor in the brake caliper was defective and needed replacement. Had it fixed at an independent Vauxhall specialist. The job involved replacing the motor unit and recalibrating the entire electronic parking brake system. It was quite a serious repair since it's a crucial safety component, you definitely don't want to risk having your car roll away when parked. I'd strongly recommend finding a shop that specializes in Vauxhall electrical systems. These parking brake issues aren't uncommon on Vauxhalls from that era, and you'll want someone who really knows what they're dealing with. Worth mentioning mine took about a day to fix once they got the parts in. Hope this helps with your decision!

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Insignia! Really helpful. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been working smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other quirks with the parking brake?

Hey again! Yeah, happy to update you! I ended up paying 505.00 € for the whole repair on my Insignia, and I can honestly say it was worth every penny. Since getting it fixed at that specialist shop, the electronic parking brake has been working like a charm, no more warning lights or issues whatsoever! It's such a relief not having to worry about whether the car will stay put when I park it. It's actually kind of funny looking back at how nervous I was about getting it fixed, but once I found a proper specialist, they knew exactly what they were doing with the electric motor replacement in the brake caliper. They sorted it out really efficiently too. Just make sure whoever you choose knows their stuff with Vauxhall electronics, it makes all the difference. Mine's been perfect for over a year now, no quirks or problems at all. Feel free to ask if you need any other info about it! Good luck with getting yours sorted!

Thanks a lot for all the details! You've given me the confidence to get this sorted. I actually took your advice and found a Vauxhall specialist nearby. Just got back from there today, what a different experience from my last mechanic! Turns out it was exactly the same issue as yours, faulty electric motor in the brake caliper. They charged me slightly more, around 580 €, but they were super professional about it. The mechanic even showed me the old part and explained everything. The whole thing took about 6 hours, and now my parking brake is working perfectly again. Such a relief! Really glad I asked here first, saved me from going back to that other place that probably would've just scratched their heads at it. Thanks again for sharing your experience. It really helped me make the right decision!