2009 Vauxhall Zafira — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 76,484 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Vauxhall Zafira, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 71.1% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (73.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.2% in the 150k+ group versus 16.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.4% | 12,522 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 10,989 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.9% | 7,582 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.3% | 5,613 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.3% | 5,590 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 3,817 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 6,951 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 5,768 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,132 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 4,098 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 3,291 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 3,251 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.9% | 25,892 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.0% | 25,232 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.0% | 22,984 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 14,923 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.4% | 10,242 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 9,924 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 353 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 4,993 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 22,221 | 26.7% |
| 90-120k | 29,833 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 14,132 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,915 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 56,805 | 29.3% |
| Diesel | 19,679 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,318 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 17,808 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 15,541 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 12,860 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 9,957 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Zafira
Before buying a 2009 Vauxhall Zafira, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.4% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Vauxhall Zafiras pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 76,484 2009 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Vauxhall Zafira?
Suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.4%).
Does the 2009 Zafira get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,484 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.