2011 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
92,692 MOT tests on the 2011 Vauxhall Zafira are in this dataset, and 74.8% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (24.1% fail rate), the 2011 Zafira comes out 1.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 10.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,028 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.4% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.1% fail against 26.3% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 92,681 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 13,697 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 9,972 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.5% | 7,000 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.9% | 6,382 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 4,832 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 4,469 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 5,028 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 4,492 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 4,395 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,849 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,722 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 3,682 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 32.8% | 30,438 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 27,623 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.8% | 22,032 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 17,882 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 13,227 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 11,571 |
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 | 458 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,430 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 29,481 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 33,846 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 15,043 | 28.7% |
| 150k+ | 6,393 | 29.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 47,826 | 26.3% |
| Petrol | 44,855 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,721 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 20,658 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 19,259 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 16,908 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 14,146 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Zafira
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
- Tyres (7.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2011 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 92,692 2011 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 2011 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 92,692 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.