2007 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 105,643 MOT tests analysed for the 2007 Vauxhall Zafira, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 69.5% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (70.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.5% in the 150k+ group versus 19.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 17,208 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.0% | 16,878 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.9% | 11,514 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.5% | 11,053 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.5% | 7,894 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 6,175 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 8,426 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 8,375 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6,861 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 6,086 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 5,986 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5,650 |
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 | 35.6% | 37,654 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.3% | 37,292 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.4% | 35,234 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.4% | 23,696 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.8% | 22,984 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 16,371 |
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 | 282 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,012 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 22,507 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 41,983 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 26,514 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 10,241 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 84,016 | 30.5% |
| Diesel | 21,616 | 30.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32,366 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 25,958 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 20,522 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 15,474 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 11,323 | 30.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Zafira
Before buying a 2007 Vauxhall Zafira, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests for this year.
- 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 (16.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (10.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2007 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 105,643 2007 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (16.0%).
Does the 2007 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 105,643 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.