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Vauxhall Zafira body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 90,028 MOT tests · Updated

At 10 years, 2.8 in 100 MOT tests of the Vauxhall Zafira failed on body and structure, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 90,028 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 2,538 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 20 ages from 4 to 23 years, 861,172 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases, 1.6 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

2.8 fails per 100 MOT tests at 10 years, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 10 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Vauxhall Zafira body and structure fails by age

Vauxhall Zafira body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Vauxhall Zafira. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05104 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 5,144 MOT tests45 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 17,206 MOT tests6 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 29,384 MOT tests67 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 44,126 MOT tests8 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 67,929 MOT tests89 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 85,329 MOT tests10 years: 2.8 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 90,028 MOT tests1011 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 87,946 MOT tests12 years: 4.5 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 78,647 MOT tests1213 years: 5.5 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 60,182 MOT tests14 years: 6.2 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 61,017 MOT tests1415 years: 7.2 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 60,344 MOT tests16 years: 7.7 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 50,712 MOT tests1617 years: 8.8 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 41,624 MOT tests18 years: 9.8 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 31,073 MOT tests1819 years: 10.6 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 20,918 MOT tests20 years: 11.3 per 100 (all cars 9.2), 14,062 MOT tests2021 years: 10.9 per 100 (all cars 9.3), 8,585 MOT tests22 years: 10.7 per 100 (all cars 9.4), 4,667 MOT tests2223 years: 10.1 per 100 (all cars 9.5), 2,249 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Vauxhall Zafira All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
45,1440.50.3
517,2060.60.5
629,3840.90.8
744,1261.21.3
867,9291.61.8
985,3292.32.3
1090,0282.82.9
1187,9463.53.5
1278,6474.54.3
1360,1825.55.0
1461,0176.25.9
1560,3447.26.7
1650,7127.77.6
1741,6248.88.3
1831,0739.88.7
19*20,91810.69.0
20*14,06211.39.2
21*8,58510.99.3
22*4,66710.79.4
23*2,24910.19.5

All first-use years of the Vauxhall Zafira pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the body and structure at 10 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
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By engine and fuel

  • 1.6 petrol: 4.1 per 100 at 10 years, fails 1.5–1.7× as often as petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 24,223 MOT tests)
  • 1.8 petrol: 4.0 per 100 at 10 years, fails 1.5–1.7× as often as petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 17,203 MOT tests)
  • 1.4 petrol: 2.6 per 100 at 10 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 9,793 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 diesel: 1.2 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.3–0.4×) (all test years; 21,853 MOT tests)
  • 1.7 diesel: 2.1 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.6–0.7×) (all test years; 14,667 MOT tests)
  • 1.9 diesel: 6.6 per 100 at 15 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 14,916 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one Vauxhall Zafira, not the average

The figures here describe Vauxhall Zafira cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Vauxhall Zafira problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Vauxhall Zafira have more body and structure problems than other cars?

2.8 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 90,028 MOT tests).

How common are Vauxhall Zafira body and structure problems?

2.8 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years failed on body and structure, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 90,028 MOT tests).

What is the most common Vauxhall Zafira body and structure fail?

1.6 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (1,400 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 861,172 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare