2018 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
28,602 MOT tests on the 2018 Vauxhall Zafira are in this dataset, and 86.9% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail at 12.2%, so the 2018 Zafira sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (6.5%) and tyres (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,410 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (15.4% vs 13.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.5% | 1,845 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.8% | 1,658 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 992 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 977 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 428 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 401 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,410 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 915 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 732 |
| 4 | Washers | 686 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 521 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 321 |
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 | 25.0% | 7,144 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 4,006 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.0% | 3,148 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 1,135 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 1,115 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 945 |
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 | 11,086 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 12,880 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,572 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 717 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 212 | 15.6% |
| 150k+ | 134 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 26,842 | 13.0% |
| Diesel | 1,760 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,028 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 5,766 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 5,639 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 5,548 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 5,621 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Zafira
On a 2018 Zafira, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (6.5% 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.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 (3.5% 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 2018 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 28,602 2018 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Vauxhall Zafira?
Visibility, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.8%).
Does the 2018 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,602 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.