2013 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 180,428 MOT tests, the 2013 Vauxhall Zafira recorded a 78.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (20.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.3%) and suspension (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 8,979 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 0-30k band and 24.6% in the 150k+ band, a 14.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.4% fail against 23.1% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 180,362 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 20,384 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.4% | 15,117 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.3% | 11,293 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.7% | 10,195 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 7,523 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 7,407 |
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 | 8,979 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 8,164 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 6,313 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 6,170 |
| 5 | Washers | 5,257 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 5,256 |
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 | 30.5% | 55,053 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 47,373 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.3% | 31,308 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 22,966 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.3% | 20,338 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 17,841 |
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 | 4,167 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 38,828 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 69,613 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 44,351 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 15,500 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 7,920 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 114,124 | 20.4% |
| Diesel | 66,238 | 23.1% |
| Gas/LPG | 66 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37,865 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 37,521 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 37,193 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 35,048 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 32,801 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Zafira
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.4% 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 (6.3% 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 2013 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 180,428 2013 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.4%).
Does the 2013 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 180,428 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.