2002 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Vauxhall Zafira passed 70.4% of its 14,544 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (29.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.3%) and suspension (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, catalyst emissions and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,421 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 Zafira fails 32.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 33.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.4% of the time against 30.8% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 47.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.7% in 2021 to 28.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 2,364 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 2,029 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 1,936 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 1,311 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 1,196 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 986 |
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 | 1,421 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 925 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 897 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 790 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 765 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 738 |
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 | 47.9% | 6,961 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.4% | 5,297 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 4,357 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.0% | 3,635 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.6% | 2,855 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 2,444 |
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 | 170 | 32.9% |
| 30-60k | 570 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,335 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,362 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,007 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,613 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,514 | 29.4% |
| Diesel | 2,030 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,094 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 3,564 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 2,621 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 1,899 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 1,366 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Zafira
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.0% 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.
- Brakes (13.3% 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.
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 2002 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 14,544 2002 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.0%).
Does the 2002 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,544 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.