Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Opel Zafira?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2002 Opel Zafira?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2002 Opel Zafira?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2002 Opel Zafira vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2002 Opel Zafira reliable?

Based on MOT data from 625 vehicles, the 2002 Opel Zafira has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Opel Zafira?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Opel Zafira are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (82% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (79.1% of vehicles), Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (58.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2002 Opel Zafira?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Opel Zafira (2002)

625 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.5% first-time pass rate

2002 Opel Zafira

CarHunch analysed 625 real MOT records for the 2002 Opel Zafira. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2002 Opel Zafira struggles with reliability: its first-time pass rate sits at 71.5%, nearly 9 percentage points below the UK average, and a concerning 31.7% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly (72.3% and 70.7% respectively), so fuel choice won't solve the problem.

These cars are genuinely worn—averaging over 96,000 miles at around 20 years old—and they show it with an average of 4.41 failures and 19.1 advisories per test. Before buying one, budget for immediate repairs and have a pre-purchase inspection done by a Zafira-familiar mechanic, because nearly a third carry a history of serious defects that could cost you dearly down the line.

The 2002 Opel Zafira has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

71.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

31.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.41

Over 14.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

100k

Middle half: 82k–122k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 625 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 625 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 82%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 58.9%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Brake wear 56.3%

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 45.2%

Oil leak · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 625 Opel Zafira cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Opel Zafira

Based on MOT data from 625 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (51%)	320	70.7%	4.52
Petrol (48%)	303	72.3%	4.31

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,366 Opel Zafira vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 36%

852

Blue 23%

545

Grey 19.8%

469

Black 8.7%

207

Green 7.3%

172

Red 4%

White 0.9%

Maroon 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Opel Zafira vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

100,066

typical

82,237

low mileage

121,767

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Opel Zafira vehicles fall between 82,237 and 121,767 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 82,237 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 82,237–121,767 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Opel Zafiras sit.

⚠ Over 164,385 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Opel Zafira — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2002 Opel Zafiras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 28 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

14.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.41

Avg failures per vehicle

19.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Opel Zafira: All Zafira years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001 2003

Or browse all models: Opel →

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Buyer beware — pass it on