2012 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Vauxhall Zafira passed 77.0% of its 109,799 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail at 22.5%, so the 2012 Zafira sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.1% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and individual direction indicators — coil spring alone was recorded 5,357 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.4% in the 0-30k band and 25.7% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (24.3% vs 22.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 14,363 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 9,917 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 7,293 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.0% | 6,570 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 5,078 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 4,739 |
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 | 5,357 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,171 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 4,354 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 3,806 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 3,753 |
| 6 | Washers | 3,580 |
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 | 31.5% | 34,586 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 30,361 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.7% | 22,737 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 17,928 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.1% | 13,240 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 12,789 |
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 | 1,610 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 16,830 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 41,767 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 32,242 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 11,991 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 5,319 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 67,466 | 22.1% |
| Diesel | 42,325 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,250 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 23,540 | 22.0% |
| 2023 | 22,741 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 20,795 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 18,473 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Zafira
On a 2012 Zafira, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Tyres (6.6% 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 2012 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 109,799 2012 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 2012 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 109,799 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.