Vauxhall

Vauxhall Zafira (2013)

32,173 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.7% first-time pass rate

2013 Vauxhall Zafira

CarHunch analysed 32,173 real MOT records for the 2013 Vauxhall 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Vauxhall Zafira sits almost exactly at the UK average with a 79.5% first-time pass rate, but the real concern is that nearly half of all examples (48.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable. Petrol versions hold a modest advantage over diesels, passing 80.3% of tests versus 78.3%, suggesting the petrol engine is slightly more robust over time.

At 57,651 miles median, these cars show reasonable mileage for their age and shouldn't be considered high-wear examples. However, the high advisory count (17.5 per vehicle) combined with an average of 2.67 failures per test indicates wear-and-tear issues accumulate steadily, so budget for regular maintenance when buying used. Check the full MOT history carefully before purchase—if a specific car has already flagged dangerous defects, walk away.

The 2013 Vauxhall Zafira has a decent first-time pass rate (79.7%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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
79.7%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
48.7%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
2.67
Over 12.2 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
58k
Middle half: 45k–73k
For context
🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.5 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 32,173 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 32,173 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 65.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Other issues 49.2%
Oil leak, but not excessive · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …
Brake wear 39.2%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Lighting 11%
Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 32,173 Vauxhall Zafira cars.

UK

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

80.4%
Petrol
19,833 vehicles
78.4%
Diesel
12,308 vehicles

Before you buy a 2013 Vauxhall Zafira

Based on MOT data from 32,173 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 48.7% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (62%) 19,833 80.4% 2.59
Diesel (38%) 12,308 78.4% 2.79

Colour Breakdown

Based on 571,775 Vauxhall Zafira vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.2%
189,821
Blue 21.6%
123,574
Black 17.3%
98,876
Grey 10.9%
62,055
Red 6.3%
35,960
Green 3.8%
21,592
White 3.2%
18,272
Beige 1.5%
8,624
Brown 1.3%
7,435
Turquoise 0.7%
3,997
Bronze 0.2%
1,334
Yellow 0%
235

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Vauxhall 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.

57,651
typical
44,521
low mileage
72,556
high mileage

Half of all 2013 Vauxhall Zafira vehicles fall between 44,521 and 72,556 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 44,521 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.
44,521–72,556 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Vauxhall Zafiras sit.
Over 97,950 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Vauxhall Zafira — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Vauxhall Zafiras are still being driven.

Strong survival — 24,809 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 80% of the peak.

1,874 24,809 2015 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

12.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.67
Avg failures per vehicle
17.5
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Vauxhall Zafira: All Zafira years → Which year to buy? →
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Or browse all models: Vauxhall →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Vauxhall Zafira stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing