2001 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,887 MOT tests, the 2001 Vauxhall Zafira recorded a 70.1% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 29.6%, so the 2001 Zafira sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.1%) and brakes (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and catalyst emissions — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 766 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 Zafira fails 30.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.8% of the time against 30.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 49.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.8% in 2021 to 27.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 1,110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 949 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.4% | 924 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 611 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 593 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.9% | 475 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 766 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 394 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 393 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 368 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 366 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 362 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 49.1% | 3,382 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.9% | 2,197 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.4% | 2,025 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.9% | 1,921 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.4% | 1,540 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 1,209 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 86 | 30.2% |
| 30-60k | 298 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,086 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,052 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,788 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,427 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,181 | 29.8% |
| Diesel | 706 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,399 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 1,674 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 1,258 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 896 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 660 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Zafira
On a 2001 Zafira, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (13.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 6,887 2001 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2001 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,887 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.