Does the Vauxhall Zafira fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Vauxhall Zafira records 9.87 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.40 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+5.47, 95% interval +5.42 to +5.52). It ranks 29 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Vauxhall Zafira by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Vauxhall Zafira is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 54,972 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 54,972 | 3.42 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 25,326 | 1.57 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 21,670 | 1.35 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 16,284 | 1.01 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 11,500 | 0.71 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,608,690 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Vauxhall Zafira gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
11.7% of Vauxhall Zafira MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,000 miles later (125,141 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 125,141 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Vauxhall Zafira 1999 · Vauxhall Zafira 2000 · Vauxhall Zafira 2001 · Vauxhall Zafira 2002 · Vauxhall Zafira 2003 · Vauxhall Zafira 2004 · Vauxhall Zafira 2005 · Vauxhall Zafira 2006 · Vauxhall Zafira 2007 · Vauxhall Zafira 2008 · Vauxhall Zafira 2009 · Vauxhall Zafira 2010 · Vauxhall Zafira 2011 · Vauxhall Zafira 2012 · Vauxhall Zafira 2013 · Vauxhall Zafira 2014 · Vauxhall Zafira 2015 · Vauxhall Zafira 2016 · Vauxhall Zafira 2017 · Vauxhall Zafira 2018 · Vauxhall Zafira in Norway · Vauxhall Zafira in Finland · Vauxhall Zafira in the Netherlands · Vauxhall Zafira by postcode area · Vauxhall Zafira body, chassis and structure failures · Vauxhall Zafira brakes failures · Vauxhall Zafira vehicle identification failures · Vauxhall Zafira lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Vauxhall Zafira road wheels failures · Vauxhall Zafira seat belts and airbags failures · Vauxhall Zafira steering failures · Vauxhall Zafira suspension failures · Vauxhall Zafira tyres failures · Vauxhall Zafira visibility failures