In 2025, 174,447 Vauxhall Zafira cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 62% passed first time, compared with 66% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Zafira worse than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 181 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 7 years old, 77% of Zafiras passed first time (all cars that age: 81%). By 20 years, that figure is 52% (all cars: 58%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 18 years (6 points behind).
Vauxhall Zafira All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Zafira passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 years | 4,821 | 77% | 81% | 56,676 |
| 8 years | 11,879 | 74% | 78% | 64,377 |
| 9 years | 11,579 | 70% | 75% | 76,013 |
| 10 years | 13,992 | 70% | 72% | 84,631 |
| 11 years | 26,191 | 65% | 69% | 91,133 |
| 12 years | 25,588 | 62% | 66% | 94,240 |
| 13 years | 14,384 | 60% | 63% | 98,483 |
| 14 years | 10,724 | 56% | 61% | 107,643 |
| 15 years | 13,473 | 55% | 59% | 109,084 |
| 16 years | 7,479 | 53% | 58% | 107,497 |
| 17 years | 10,153 | 52% | 57% | 112,286 |
| 18 years | 8,505 | 51% | 57% | 114,051 |
| 19 years | 5,402 | 53% | 57% | 115,735 |
| 20 years | 3,858 | 52% | 58% | 115,007 |
What fails most on a Vauxhall Zafira
The area that lets the Zafira down most, relative to other cars, is emissions and leaks: 10.7% of tests failed on it, 2.8 times the rate for the average car.
Share of Zafira tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 6.8% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 6.3% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 5.5% |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | Emissions and leaks | 4.6% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 4.2% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 4.0% |
What to check when buying a used Zafira
Based on where the Zafira fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Zafira
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a ZafiraFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Vauxhall Zafira?
In 2025, 62% of Vauxhall Zafira cars passed their MOT first time, across 174,447 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 66%.
What do Vauxhall Zafira cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (6.8% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (6.3% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.5% of tests).
Other Vauxhall models
Vauxhall Corsa (61%), Vauxhall Astra (65%), Vauxhall Mokka (66%), Vauxhall Insignia (67%), Vauxhall Vivaro (54%), Vauxhall Meriva (62%). All Vauxhall models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.