2010 Vauxhall Zafira MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 55.1% of Vauxhall Zafiras first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. Across 49,318 Zafira first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Vauxhall Zafiras first used in 2010 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
55.1%
of 13,474 first tests; all cars first used in 2010: 59.3%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
49,318
first tests, 2023–2025; 13,474 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
15.6%
of 13,474 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
107,500
middle half: 88,000–127,500 miles; all cars first used in 2010: 100,000

How the 2010 Vauxhall Zafira MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Zafiras first used in 2010 against all cars first used in 2010 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Zafira figure was 4.2 points lower.

2010 ZafiraAll cars first used in 2010
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2010, test year 2021: 62.6%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2022: 61.7%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2023: 60.5%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2024: 59.6%All cars first used in 2010, test year 2025: 59.3%2010 Zafira, test year 2021: 56.1%2010 Zafira, test year 2022: 55.8%2010 Zafira, test year 2023: 55.1%2010 Zafira, test year 2024: 54.9%2010 Zafira, test year 2025: 55.1%59.3%55.1%
View this chart as a table
Test year2010 ZafiraAll cars first used 2010Zafira first tests
202156.1%62.6%23,731
202255.8%61.7%21,833
202355.1%60.5%19,323
202454.9%59.6%16,521
202555.1%59.3%13,474

Common 2010 Vauxhall Zafira MOT failures

Share of the 22,182 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment45.5%
Suspension44.3%
Brakes22.4%
Tyres22.0%
Visibility16.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks15.3%
Body, chassis, structure13.2%
Steering4.6%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken18.1%4,023
Position lamp: not working13.2%2,922
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.1%2,021
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed8.4%1,868
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.3%1,849

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Zafira in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively wornSuspension arm replacement£150£120–£180

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2010 Vauxhall Zafira before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2010 Vauxhall Zafira MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2010 Zafiras, as a share of all 49,318 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge23.9%11,791
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive23.2%11,448
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened17.9%8,836
Coil spring: corroded10.7%5,280
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.5%5,161

Questions about the 2010 Vauxhall Zafira MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2010 Vauxhall Zafira?

In 2025, 55.1% of Zafiras first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2010 Zafira most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 45.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (44.3%) and brakes (22.4%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (18.1%).

How often does a 2010 Vauxhall Zafira fail its MOT?

In 2025, 44.9% of first tests on Zafiras first used in 2010 did not pass first time: 36.5% failed, and a further 8.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 22,182 of 49,318 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2010 Vauxhall Zafira MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 23.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (23.2%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (17.9%), “Coil spring: corroded” (10.7%) and “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.5%).

Is a 2010 Vauxhall Zafira reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 56.1% in 2021 to 55.1% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2010

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2010 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2010 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2010 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics

How the 2010 Vauxhall Zafira MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2010 Zafira” means a Vauxhall Zafira whose date of first use falls in 2010 (59, 10 and 60 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2010, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.