2014 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 173,044 MOT tests analysed for the 2014 Vauxhall Zafira, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 80.1% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (81.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.7% in the 150k+ group versus 9.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 15,868 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.9% | 11,915 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.2% | 10,697 |
| 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 | 6,093 |
| 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% | 40,445 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.1% | 22,712 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.2% | 19,449 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 13,287 |
| 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 | 46,835 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 67,539 | 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 | 87,972 | 18.8% |
| Diesel | 85,022 | 21.1% |
| Gas/LPG | 50 | 24.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35,098 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 35,388 | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 35,340 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 34,239 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 32,979 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Zafira
Before buying a 2014 Vauxhall Zafira, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests for this year.
- 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 173,044 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 173,044 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.