2005 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Vauxhall Zafira passed 69.2% of its 50,886 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail at 30.0%, so the 2005 Zafira sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.4%) and suspension (15.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, coil spring and position lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 4,652 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Zafira fails 32.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 33.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.6% of the time against 31.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 47.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.8% in 2021 to 29.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 7,839 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 7,629 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.6% | 6,928 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 4,462 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 4,285 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 3,535 |
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 | 4,652 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,337 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 3,144 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 2,565 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 2,496 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,260 |
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 | 47.2% | 24,001 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.9% | 16,211 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.3% | 15,913 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.3% | 10,855 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.1% | 10,742 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 9,950 |
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 | 778 | 32.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,940 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 9,096 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 17,725 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 13,215 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 6,445 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 42,747 | 30.6% |
| Diesel | 8,130 | 31.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,685 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 12,467 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 9,499 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 7,044 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 5,191 | 29.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Zafira
On a 2005 Zafira, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% 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 (13.6% 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 2005 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 50,886 2005 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 2005 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,886 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.