2010 Vauxhall Zafira 1.6L Petrol · DP10 FTD

The 2010 Vauxhall Zafira presents a borderline mechanical picture. The most recent test on 3 December 2025 at 96,832 miles passed, but it carried advisories for a perished offside rear tyre and a nearside rear outer tyre worn to near the legal limit, alongside a minor engine oil leak. This follows a pattern of recurring tyre and brake advisories. The trend is not one of serious neglect, but rather one of deferred minor maintenance, with the vehicle passing its tests on the back of consumable items wearing out at the point of inspection rather than being proactively replaced. The mileage accumulation is low and consistent. Between the clean pass on 7 December 2023 at 84,203 miles and the failed test on 4 December 2024 at 90,603 miles, the vehicle covered approximately 6,400 miles in a year. The recorded mileage then appears to have remained static at 96,832 miles between December 2024 and December 2025, which is a significant anomaly suggesting either a data recording error, a replacement unit, or a prolonged period of the vehicle standing unused. The gap between the March 2020 test at 84,038 miles and the December 2023 test at 84,203 miles shows the vehicle was effectively stationary for nearly four years, a period that can cause its own issues with seized brakes, perished rubber components, and stale fuel. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the braking system and tyre condition. The December 2024 failure highlighted a significantly worn offside rear inner brake disc and pads below 1.5mm on both front corners, indicating the vehicle was driven with brakes at the end of their service life. While the December 2025 test passed, the repeated advisories for worn and perished tyres across multiple axles suggest a pattern of running tyres to the legal minimum. Check the date codes and sidewall condition of all four tyres, including the spare, and inspect the rear brake discs and pads for scoring or lipping. The minor engine oil leak flagged in the latest test requires a visual inspection of the engine bay and under-tray to identify the source, whether a rocker cover gasket, oil filter housing, or a more concerning main seal. The long stationary period between 2020 and 2023 raises questions about the condition of rubber bushes, hoses, and the exhaust system. A thorough inspection underneath the vehicle is advisable to check for corrosion on the subframe, brake lines, and exhaust box, as standing vehicles often suffer from moisture ingress in hollow sections. The tyre perishing noted across multiple tests supports the likelihood of general rubber deterioration. Test the operation of the handbrake and the condition of the rear calipers, as prolonged standing can cause binding, a fault the tester flagged in late 2024.