2008 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 120,049 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Vauxhall Zafira, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 70.2% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.8% in the 150k+ group versus 18.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.3% | 19,594 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 18,242 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 13,352 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.0% | 10,786 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.6% | 9,133 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 6,360 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 10,440 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 9,535 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 7,195 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6,942 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 6,116 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 5,688 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.3% | 43,557 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.2% | 41,095 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.3% | 39,922 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.0% | 25,173 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 18,022 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.4% | 17,315 |
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 | 285 | 18.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,945 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 28,040 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 48,348 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 28,015 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 10,321 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 83,844 | 30.1% |
| Diesel | 36,204 | 29.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35,142 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 29,308 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 23,825 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 18,323 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 13,451 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Zafira
Before buying a 2008 Vauxhall Zafira, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.1% 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 2008 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 120,049 2008 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Vauxhall Zafira?
Suspension, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.2%).
Does the 2008 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 120,049 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.