2017 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 69,785 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Vauxhall Zafira, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 85.5% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (87.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.6% in the 150k+ group versus 9.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 4,161 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.7% | 4,009 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 2,667 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 2,584 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 2,262 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 1,446 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,767 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,294 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,116 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,852 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,735 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,347 |
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 | 27.7% | 19,340 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 11,167 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.7% | 8,181 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 3,902 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.0% | 3,517 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 2,569 |
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 | 16,252 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 35,193 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 13,781 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,117 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 838 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 595 | 16.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 58,881 | 14.4% |
| Diesel | 10,896 | 15.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,553 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 13,885 | 13.1% |
| 2023 | 14,213 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 14,033 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 14,101 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Zafira
Before buying a 2017 Vauxhall Zafira, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.0% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Visibility (5.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2017 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 69,785 2017 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Vauxhall Zafira?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by visibility (5.7%).
Does the 2017 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 69,785 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.