2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Vauxhall Zafira MOT pass rate and common faults

4,032 MOT tests in 2024. 52.2% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

93Below average
Passed first time52.2%
Failed or needed repairs47.8%
Typical mileage at test113,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,032 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded6.2%
  2. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases4.9%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.8%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.6%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction4.3%
  6. Position lamp: not working4.2%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.0%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.5%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
    198 marked dangerous
  10. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.1%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Brakes29.5%
  2. Lights & electrics27.6%
  3. Suspension23.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks16.3%
  5. Body & chassis12.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.4%
  7. Tyres8.6%
  8. Steering5.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded32.3%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine26.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.1%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.8%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened14.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Vauxhall Zafira?

In 2024, 52.2% of 2004 Vauxhall Zafira cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,032 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Vauxhall Zafira?

The most common failure reasons were rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was brakes.

Is the 2004 Vauxhall Zafira reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 93, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).