Does the Vauxhall Zafira fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Vauxhall Zafira records 24.01 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 21.14 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.87, 95% interval +2.80 to +2.95). It ranks 193 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Vauxhall Zafira by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Vauxhall Zafira is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 63,587 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 63,587 | 3.95 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 52,695 | 3.28 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 42,314 | 2.63 |
| Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 30,557 | 1.90 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 30,115 | 1.87 |
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 lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
25.4% of Vauxhall Zafira MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,404 miles later (40,222 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 40,222 (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 noise, emissions and leaks 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