2014 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Vauxhall Zafira passed 80.1% of its 173,051 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail at 19.0%, so the 2014 Zafira sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and tyres (6.9%) 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 tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 6,410 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.7% versus 9.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than petrol ones (21.1% vs 18.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 15,870 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.9% | 11,915 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 10,698 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.4% | 9,290 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 7,330 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 6,750 |
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 | 6,410 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 6,095 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 6,002 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 5,865 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 4,645 |
| 6 | Washers | 4,557 |
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 | 29.8% | 51,544 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.4% | 40,446 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.1% | 22,712 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.2% | 19,449 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 13,288 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 12,142 |
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 | 5,728 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 46,838 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 67,543 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 34,785 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 11,504 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 6,606 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 87,979 | 18.8% |
| Diesel | 85,022 | 21.1% |
| Gas/LPG | 50 | 24.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35,099 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 35,390 | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 35,342 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 34,240 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 32,980 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Zafira
On a 2014 Zafira, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% 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.
- Suspension (6.2% 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.
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 2014 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 173,051 2014 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Vauxhall Zafira?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.9%).
Does the 2014 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 173,051 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.