Vauxhall Zafira (2017)

11,930 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.9% first-time pass rate

2017 Vauxhall Zafira

CarHunch analysed 11,930 real MOT records for the 2017 Vauxhall Zafira. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2017 Zafira passes its MOT first time at 84.9%, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%, suggesting reasonable overall reliability—but nearly a third of these vehicles (34.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a significant concern for a family car. Petrol and diesel versions perform almost identically (both around 85% pass rate), so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At 39,296 miles median, these cars have covered modest mileage for their age, yet they're still racking up an average of 1.3 failures and 8.1 advisories per test, pointing to recurring wear items and minor issues becoming routine. If you're buying one, check the full MOT history for patterns of dangerous defects—particularly around suspension and braking—rather than relying on the current test result alone.

Below average reliability 4.9% above UK average
84.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
39,296
typical mileage
29,377–50,041 middle half
34.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.3
avg MOT failures per car
over 7.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2017 Vauxhall Zafira

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 34.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Vauxhall Zafira

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (84%) 10,052 84.9% 1.3
Diesel (16%) 1,874 84.8% 1.31
LPG (0%) 2 91.7% 0.5
Other (0%) 1 83.3% 1
Diesel (0%) 1 50% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Vauxhall Zafira vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

29,377
low mileage
39,296
typical
50,041
high mileage

Half of all 2017 Vauxhall Zafira vehicles fall between 29,377 and 50,041 miles.

2017 Vauxhall Zafira — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 11,219 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

999 11,219 2019 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.

MOT History Averages

7.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.3
Avg failures per vehicle
8.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2017 Vauxhall Zafira

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 53.7%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 49.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 31.9%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 28.3%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 24%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 23.2%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 22%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 20.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Vauxhall Zafira?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Vauxhall Zafira:

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018