Used car guide

2012 Vauxhall Zafira: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Vauxhall Zafiras, from 14,425 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

14,425MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,400typical miles a year
3×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Vauxhall Zafiras than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Engine oil leaks3× usual
    Vauxhall Zafira
    22.1% All 2012 cars
    7.3%
    Rough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Exhaust system2.2× usual
    Vauxhall Zafira
    12.1% All 2012 cars
    5.5%
    Rough price £100–£500

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Swivel pins and bushes5.9× usual
    Vauxhall Zafira
    4.7% All 2012 cars
    0.8%
    Rough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
    Vauxhall Zafira
    6.6% All 2012 cars
    3%
    Rough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Battery5.2× usual
    Vauxhall Zafira
    2.6% All 2012 cars
    0.5%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 3.2% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars. Track rod end: 1.8% here, against 4.9% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Vauxhall Zafira MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    39% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    37% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201711,876Tyres 34%
201611,614Tyres 36%
201514,007Tyres 36%
201426,239Tyres 38%
201325,656Tyres 38%
201110,750Suspension 43%
201013,523Suspension 50%
20097,516Suspension 52%
200810,204Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Vauxhall Zafiras registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score