Vauxhall Zafira Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Zafira car check
Is the Vauxhall Zafira reliable? We analysed 8,488,627 real MOT tests across 574,092 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Zafira? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Zafira is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Zafira.
Vauxhall Zafira Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Zafira. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Zafira MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Zafira to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Zafira Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Vauxhall Zafira fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Vauxhall Zafira Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Zafira owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Zafira MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Zafira year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 33,073 | 82.9% | 23,327 | 36,339 | 52,958 |
| 2017 | 96,418 | 83.0% | 27,152 | 41,083 | 59,015 |
| 2016 | 110,270 | 81.3% | 31,365 | 47,688 | 68,675 |
| 2015 | 156,626 | 80.5% | 35,126 | 53,580 | 76,638 |
| 2014 | 345,841 | 78.8% | 38,278 | 58,689 | 83,610 |
| 2013 | 403,122 | 78.0% | 40,246 | 61,856 | 87,880 |
| 2012 | 285,880 | 75.9% | 41,883 | 64,935 | 91,239 |
| 2011 | 283,161 | 74.8% | 47,014 | 71,831 | 98,739 |
| 2010 | 449,514 | 73.3% | 47,003 | 72,183 | 99,286 |
| 2009 | 322,912 | 73.0% | 46,050 | 71,823 | 99,005 |
| 2008 | 659,373 | 72.5% | 49,586 | 75,375 | 102,296 |
| 2007 | 740,664 | 72.0% | 49,042 | 74,821 | 101,966 |
| 2006 | 733,373 | 72.2% | 50,005 | 76,067 | 103,311 |
| 2005 | 674,325 | 69.4% | 50,254 | 76,124 | 104,000 |
| 2004 | 847,728 | 69.2% | 51,450 | 77,442 | 105,530 |
| 2003 | 772,876 | 69.1% | 53,070 | 78,904 | 106,249 |
| 2002 | 668,603 | 68.9% | 59,531 | 84,447 | 111,702 |
| 2001 | 477,202 | 68.0% | 65,700 | 89,385 | 115,856 |
| 2000 | 305,389 | 66.0% | 72,478 | 95,407 | 121,059 |
| 1999 | 112,355 | 64.2% | 77,576 | 99,722 | 124,271 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Zafira Last?
Based on 574,092 Vauxhall Zafira vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Zafira Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Zafira
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
83.0% MOT pass rate from 96,418 tests
63.8% MOT pass rate from 58 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Zafira is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.0% across 96,418 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Zafira Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Zafira THIS CAR | 71.9% | 8,488,627 | 75,062 mi | 27 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 Vectra | 67.2% | 7,582,833 | 90,544 mi | 30 yrs |
| Nissan Note | 75.4% | 2,716,974 | 54,306 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Zafira sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Zafira you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Vauxhall ZafiraShould you buy a used Vauxhall Zafira?
The Vauxhall Zafira has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.9% across 8,488,627 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Vauxhall Zafira are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (301,897 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (199,525), and position lamp(s) not working (140,225). 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 Zafira owner drives around 7,298 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 Zafira models stay on UK roads for around 27 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.