Opel Zafira MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Opel Zafira MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Opel Zafira passed on its first attempt in 65.1%, and its overall record sits −7.7 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Opel Zafira in the 2023–2025 data: 225 tests across 3 model years (2001–2003). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Opel Zafira MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Opel Zafira, the Body, chassis, structure section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Opel Zafira's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Opel Zafira DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Opel Zafira, each with how many of the model's 225 tests it was noted on.

• "Joints constant velocity boot severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 14 Opel Zafira tests, 6.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 13 Opel Zafira tests, 5.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (Major) — noted on about 12 Opel Zafira tests, 5.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 11 Opel Zafira tests, 4.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Mirrors slightly loose" (Minor) — noted on about 8 Opel Zafira tests, 3.6% of the model's MOT record.
• "Exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases" (Major) — noted on about 8 Opel Zafira tests, 3.6% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Opel Zafira Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Opel Zafira model year on record is 2003 (76.5% across 51 tests), and the weakest is 2001 (68.8%). The gap between them is 7.7 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Opel Zafira reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 3.9 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Opel Zafira Owners

These checks follow this Opel Zafira's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Opel Zafira.

• the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the coil springs — “coil spring fractured or broken”

  Look up inside each wheel arch with a torch, all the way round the spring. A snapped spring usually breaks at the very bottom coil, where a quick glance will not reach.

• the exhaust and emissions — “exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gases”

  Listen for a blow at idle and have someone rev it gently. Then look at the tailpipe smoke: blue is oil, white when warm is coolant, black is over-fuelling. Any of those and the emissions test is the least of it.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Opel Zafira. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Opel Zafira MOT & Reliability