2016 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 71,025 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Vauxhall Zafira, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 83.6% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (85.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 15.9% in the 150k+ group versus 10.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.5% | 4,631 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 3,705 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.2% | 3,704 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 3,313 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.3% | 3,086 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.1% | 2,228 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,691 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,550 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,542 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,341 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,565 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,326 |
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 | 28.0% | 19,883 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 13,103 |
| 3 | Other defects | 12.2% | 8,652 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.6% | 5,367 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 5,035 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 2,882 |
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 | 8,298 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 32,450 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 20,499 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 6,319 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,958 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,483 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 42,839 | 15.5% |
| Diesel | 28,160 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,107 | 13.7% |
| 2022 | 14,246 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 14,387 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 14,189 | 17.4% |
| 2025 | 14,096 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Zafira
Before buying a 2016 Vauxhall Zafira, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.5% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2016 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
83.6% of the 71,025 2016 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Vauxhall Zafira?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.2%).
Does the 2016 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 71,025 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.